Just two days after a brazen burglary in the Principality’s Larvotto district, three suspected minors found themselves in a holding cell, report Monaco-Matin. Armed with all the classic tools of the trade; gloves, screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, and bits of plastic, the trio was apprehended by the Monaco police on Wednesday, August 28, while nonchalantly riding a bus.
The heist, which took place on Monday, August 26 at the upscale Columbia Palace residence on Avenue Princesse-Grace, saw the disappearance of jewellery and watches valued at around 160,000 euros. With multiple break-ins already making waves in Monaco this summer, the local Public Safety forces had intensified their watchful eyes on the streets and through their video surveillance network, issuing warnings to everyone from building managers to taxi drivers to stay vigilant.
This heightened awareness paid off when two of the three young women, fitting descriptions from a circulated alert, were nabbed. The suspects, who claimed to be just 12 and 13, were found to be older; 16 and 17 years old, after wrist X-rays. Despite having no fixed residence and possibly belonging to a community of travellers, they denied any involvement in the burglary during questioning.
The following day, Thursday, August 29, the young suspects were charged with “home burglary and criminal conspiracy” and were placed in pre-trial detention at the Monaco remand centre. As they await further legal proceedings, Monegasque investigators continue their work, digging deeper into the case under a rogatory commission.
