In one of the largest residential thefts in UK history, jewellery and luxury items worth £10.4 million were stolen from a mansion on London’s exclusive “Billionaire’s Row.” The heist, executed by a “lone wolf” burglar, took place in just 19 minutes.
The burglary occurred on Saturday, December 7, at a 13-bedroom property on Avenue Road, St John’s Wood. The intruder gained access through a second-floor window, cracked a safe, and looted valuable items, including a Graff 10.73-carat diamond ring, De Beers butterfly diamond rings, a Hermès 3.03-carat ring, and a Niloticus Lumière necklace.
The thief entered the property at 5:11 PM and spent five minutes searching rooms on the second floor before descending to the first floor to steal high-value items. He fled through the same window at 5:30 PM.
Around eight people, including family members and staff, were inside the 22,000 sq ft mansion during the break-in. The family, originally from Hong Kong, is offering rewards of up to £500,000 for information leading to the capture and conviction of the thief, as well as 10% of the value of any recovered items.
The suspect, a white man in his late 20s or 30s, wore a dark hoodie, cargo pants, and a grey baseball cap. He was seen carrying a weapon, possibly a flamethrower or noxious spray. Authorities suspect that the burglar may be part of a larger network, given the value of the stolen items.
The mansion is located on Avenue Road, one of the UK’s most affluent addresses, which has seen an increase in high-end jewellery thefts. The police are urging anyone with information about the stolen jewellery or the suspect to come forward.
