Two thieves are being hunted after stealing a royal necklace covered with 673 diamonds and valued at around $4 million from a museum in Vienna, Austria.
The robbery happened on August 27 at the Museum of Applied Arts, known as MAK, while it was open to the public.
According to police, the two men bought tickets and entered the museum without masks. At around 2 p.m., they smashed a glass display case and took the necklace before fleeing on foot toward nearby Stadtpark.
One of the suspects was reportedly carrying what investigators believe was a real firearm. No one was injured during the robbery.
The stolen necklace once belonged to Queen Nazli of Egypt and was created by French luxury jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels in 1939. Made of platinum, it contains 673 diamonds totaling more than 200 carats.
Queen Nazli commissioned the piece for the wedding of her daughter. When the necklace was offered at auction by Sotheby’s in 2015, it was estimated to be worth between $3.6 million and $4.6 million.
Surveillance cameras captured images of both suspects. Police described them as slim men with dark hair and beards, wearing dark clothing and sneakers with white soles.
Authorities have expanded the search beyond Austria, with the suspects now wanted nationally and internationally.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements. As of August 29, neither suspect had been arrested.