On Tuesday evening, Monaco authorities swiftly resolved a high-profile jewellery store robbery that saw an armed man enter TheWatchProject at 23 boulevard Princesse-Charlotte, making off with four luxury watches valued at €40,000.
The brazen heist occurred around 5:25 p.m., as reported here, marking the second armed jewellery store robbery in Monaco this year, following a similar incident in May at Monaco Watch Company.
According to Monaco’s public prosecutor, the suspect, armed with a pistol and a taser, entered the store and posed as a customer interested in purchasing a watch. When the store manager went to retrieve a certificate of authenticity, the suspect followed, using his weapons to threaten and overpower him. Under duress, the manager handed over four luxury timepieces. As the suspect exited, he activated the taser on the manager, who was still able to alert Monaco Public Security through the store’s alarm system, directly linked to the police.
Though the suspect fled toward the nearby French border, police acted quickly. The individual was apprehended shortly afterward in Beausoleil by the municipal police. Authorities confirmed that the stolen watches have since been recovered. Surveillance footage, which captured the suspect’s uncovered face, will assist in confirming his identity, though officials have yet to release this information.
In a statement, Monaco’s public prosecutor expressed relief that the stolen items were safely recovered. Meanwhile, Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli refrained from commenting further on the case.
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