I stole the Prince's jewels, says Italian cat burglar
By Bruce Johnston in Rome and Neil Tweedie
(Story has been abbreviated. T.C.)
A SMALL-time cat-burglar from the Italian Riviera claims that he
stole jewellery and personal papers from the Prince of Wales's
private apartments in St James's Palace, London, three years ago.
(.............................)
Heirlooms belonging to the Prince of Wales were taken from his
apartments at St James's Palace between Feb 24 and 25 1994. A number
of pairs of cufflinks, tiepins and other personal possessions were
stolen, including a pair of 18-carat yellow gold Faberge cufflinks
once owned by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. They were encrusted with
rose diamonds, sapphires and rubies.Also taken was an engraved Hunter pocket watch given to the Prince by
the Princess Royal on his 21st birthday.
At the time of the break-in, Scotland Yard said that none of the
items would realise their real value as "it would be a bit like
trying to sell the Mona Lisa".
It was believed that the burglar might have used scaffolding covering
the front of the palace to gain entry. A description of the suspect
was issued after a man visited a jeweller in Hatton Garden, central
London, the day after the burglary and sold a number of items at a
fraction of their value to a bullion dealer. The dealer, Geoffrey
Mann, became suspicious and contacted the police. The suspect was
described as of Mediterranean origin - possibly Italian - in his early
30s, six feet tall and slim.
he has a few more pairs of Nicholas's cufflinks
