31 May 2009

Jewel robbery in Paris

5:47 am on 31 May 2009

Jewellery worth about six million euros has been taken in a hold-up at an elite jewellery store in Paris.

The robbery happened at around 3pm on Saturday at the premises of Chopard in Place Vendome near the Ritz Hotel.

Employees were forced to hand over some 15 pieces of jewellery.

Chopard makes watches and jewels for the stars and has branches in most of the world's capitals.

The robbery is not the first in Paris. Gems worth 85 million euros were taken by armed men at the jewellers Harry Winston in December.

The same store was robbed a year before: at least $US16 million worth of jewels was taken on that occasion.