THE jewelry theft that shocked the world in 2019 can finally be resolved. Five men, aged 24 to 29, were convicted this morning of breaking and entering the Green Vault Museum (Grünes Gewölbe) in Dresden, Germany and fleeing with millions of dollars in treasure.
The trial in Dresden State Court lasted 47 days and more than 100 witnesses appeared on the stand. Today’s ruling found the men guilty of armed robbery, property damage and arson, and handed down prison sentences of four to six years, according to the BBC. A sixth defendant was acquitted.
The theft took place on November 25, 2019 and targeted more than 4,300 treasures worth at least 113 million euros ($119 million), including the 49-carat Dresden White Diamond and the Polish Order of the white eagle, which once belonged to the King of Poland.
During the night, the thieves broke through high security by setting fire to a circuit breaker panel to cause a local power outage. Their entrance was then relatively free, since they had previously cut protective bars above a window using a hydraulic cutting machine and put them back in place with the help of adhesive tape. They escaped after just 10 minutes and fled to Berlin, where they were arrested several months later.
Breast Star of the Order of the Polish White Eagle (Brilliant Set). Made in Geneva/Vienna between 1746 and 1749 from diamonds, rubies, gold and silver. Green Vault, Dresden State Art Collections. Photo: Jürgen Karpinski.
The thieves themselves apparently expressed surprise in court at how easily it had been possible to get away with the plan, especially given the loud noises generated by their equipment. In 2020, four the security guards were even investigated by the police on possible collusion with the criminals, in light of their slow response time and a series of other oversights.
The majority of these jewels were recovered by German authorities late last year, thanks to information given to lawyers for the defendants as part of a plea bargain which saw four of the men confess to their involvement and the fifth confess to helping in the burglary.
A total of 31 items were returned to the museum safe and sound. Some important items are still missing, including a diamond known as the White Stone of Saxony.
The convicted men are all members of the notorious Remmo Familya Berlin organized criminal network that was also linked to the theft of a gold coin from the Bode Museum in 2017. This item was never returned and was reportedly sold or melted down.
More trending stories:
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay one step ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news, revealing interviews and incisive reviews that move the conversation forward.
