$53M in jewels stolen from Cannes hotel used in 'To Catch a Thief'

PARIS — A staggering $53 million worth of diamonds and other jewels was stolen on Sunday from the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, in one of Europe's biggest jewelry heists in recent years, police said.

“The raid took place in broad daylight when there were hundreds of holidaymakers enjoying the sunshine. It could not have been more audacious,” a police source said.

The luxury hotel has been hosting a jewelry exhibit from the prestigious Leviev diamond house. About noon, the gems were stuffed into a briefcase by an armed robber, who detectives think may have had an accomplice waiting outside.

The Carlton, on the exclusive Promenade de la Croisette, provides not only a beautiful view of the sea, but an easy getaway for thieves.

“It's a huge theft. Anytime you talk about a heist with many millions of dollars it turns heads and feeds the imagination,” said Jonathan Sazonoff, U.S. editor for the Museum Security Network website and an authority on high-value crime.

The fabled hotel provided the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's “To Catch a Thief,” a 1955 film about a “cat burglar” prowling the French Riviera. Its star, Grace Kelly, met Prince Rainier of Monaco there.

Sazonoff said it is normal for robbers to gravitate to Cannes. “Why do thieves target Cannes? It's simple. ... It's where the monied people flow,” he said.