Cannes Film Festival heist $1 million in jewels stolen from hotel room

PARIS - More than $1 Millon worth of jewellery designed to be worn by stars on the red carpet at Cannes was stolen as thieves made off with an entire safe-full today.

It comes as the upmarket resort on the French Riviera hosts its annual film festival featuring actors including Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.

Thieves are said to have have broken into a hotel room being used by an employee of Swiss luxury jeweller and watch maker Chopard early this morning.

They forced a safe off a wall and made off with bracelets, necklaces and other items all containing precious stones.

‘The break-in was at the Novotel in the centre of town,’ said a police source. ‘The room was said to be empty, and the safe was taken off the wall, before being removed.’

Detectives put the estimated loss at ‘around 775 000 euros’, although the link with some of the biggest Hollywood stars in the world could give it far greater value on the black market.

Chopard is one of the official sponsors of the 66th annual film festival - it designs the Palme d’Or (Gold Palm) award, and creates all the jewellery for the ‘walking up the red carpeted steps’ ritual which is broadcast across the world every year.

Cannes is notorious for jewellery thefts, with organised gangs frequently targeting boutiques and hotels.

Many turn of the raids turn out to be inside jobs, with staff helping the thieves to locate and then steal items.

Those seen wearing Chopard jewellery at this year’s festival have included Julianne Moore, Cindy Crawford and Cara Delevingne.

Last year, the company’s ambassadors included Eva Herzigova, Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon and Marion Cotillard.

Today detectives were inspecting the second floor room at the Novotel hotel for clues. The Chopard employee, who has not been identified, was also being questioned.

The Novotel Hotel is situated across the road from the municipal police headquarters in Cannes.

In May 2009, a Chopard boutique on the Place Vendome in Paris was raided and more than 6 million pounds worth of jewellery taken.

A man was eventually sentenced to eight years in prison in connection with the crime, but the jewellery was never recovered.