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20th February 2022
02:18pm GMT
Via Metropolitan Police[/caption]
The diamonds were supposed to be placed in a padlocked purse while “Anna” liaised with her Russian buyers, reports the Independent.
However, upon reviewing the CCTV, officials watched as the thief switched out the purse and demonstrated incredible skill with “sleight of hand.”
The diamonds were to be placed in a padlocked purse and held in the New Bond Street store’s vault until funds were transferred.
But CCTV footage from the family firm’s basement showroom captured the moment the purse was put into Lakatos’s handbag and switched for a duplicate in seconds using “sleight of hand” on March 10 2016. Upon leaving the store, Lakatos moved the gems once again and left France within three hours.
Naturally, jewellers found their diamonds replaced with small pebbles the following day.
On Monday, the crown court heard that Lakatos would only need to pay back €293 (£245) as this was the amount found on her person when arrested.
Judge Alexander Milne QC said: “As far as the figures are concerned there is a striking contrast between the benefit figure of £4,299,671 and the available assets of 293 euros and 57 cents.”
She is expected to be extradited back to France later this year.
