One of Europe's largest collections of priceless artifacts and treasures were targeted in a daring heist Monday morning after a crew pulled off a heist and made off with treasures and jewels of "immeasurable worth," authorities in Germany said Monday.
Police were alerted to a break-in early Monday morning after they received a call at 4:59 a.m. from the Green Vault Museum staff, who'd spotted the thieves on CCTV.
"Two suspects were seen on CCTV. The suspects came in through a window, and walked towards a glass vitrine, smashed it and left, they disappeared," Dresden Police's Chief Criminal Director Volker Lange said.
The thieves disappeared before authorities could catch them, but a vehicle parked nearby appeared to flee the scene shortly afterwards, police said. An alert was sent out to try and locate the vehicle with police closing roads in an attempt to catch the suspects.
Officials told reporters at a news conference Monday morning that three sets of artifacts had been stolen from one display case that had been smashed. Around 100 pieces were taken some of which included diamonds, pearls and rubies. According to Marion Ackermann, the museum's director general of the Dresden State Art Collection, that while it was impossible to estimate the value of the stolen items, it was unlikely the thieves would be able to sell them because they are so well-known.
None of the pieces taken were insured, Ackermann said, noting that because the items had been in the possession of the state of Saxony for so long, they were not covered.
According to the governor of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, the Green Vault contained items that had been collected over many centuries.
"It’s not just the State Art Collections that was robbed, but us Saxons," Kretschmer tweeted. "One can’t understand the history of Saxony without the Green Vault."
Dresden police have set up a special commission to investigate the theft, which is now being referred to as "Operation Epaulette."
The collection was first established in 1723 by the then-ruler of Saxony, Augustus the Strong. It features a variety of exhibits that range from the Baroque to Classicism.
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