Elderly Man Attacked and Robbed of €250,000 in Jewelry in Paris
Paris, February 15th – A 73-year-old man was violently assaulted and robbed of an estimated €250,000 worth of jewelry and luxury watches in a daytime home invasion on Friday, February 13th, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. The perpetrators, armed with a hammer, remain at large as police continue their investigation.
Daylight Robbery in the Heart of Paris
The incident occurred around 9:20 AM on Friday in the Rue du Sentier. According to police sources, two individuals rang the doorbell of a couple’s residence, while a third accomplice stood watch in the building’s common areas. The husband opened the door and was immediately threatened with a hammer and beaten. The assailants then ransacked the apartment, stealing a significant quantity of jewelry and watches before fleeing the scene. The wife, who was in the bedroom, was not physically harmed.
Authorities were alerted to the robbery, which took place in broad daylight in a central Parisian district. The Paris public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for “theft with violence,” and the 1st judicial police district has been assigned to the case.
Escape and Initial Interrogation
Approximately ten minutes after entering the victims’ home, the three robbers left the area in a vehicle that had been waiting nearby, driven by a fourth individual. Surveillance footage enabled investigators to identify the vehicle’s license plate. Following a general alert issued by the police, the VTC (Véhicule de Tourisme avec Chauffeur) driver was intercepted at Place du Panthéon in the 5th arrondissement.
The driver informed police that he had picked up three individuals and dropped them off on Avenue de la République in the 3rd arrondissement. He was subsequently questioned at length by the police but has not been implicated in the robbery.
Victim Suffers Injuries, Perpetrators Sought
The 73-year-old victim, who was hit and threatened, reported pain in his arms and elbows but declined hospital transport. The estimated value of the stolen items, including high-value jewelry and luxury watches, could reach €250,000, as stated by the Paris public prosecutor’s office. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this violent robbery.
This incident adds to a series of similar home invasions and violent thefts that have occurred in France, highlighting concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of measures to combat organized crime.
