--- title: What Infamous Thefts Teach Us date: 2025-05-14T13:53:00+01:00 author: Bob Andrews canonical_url: "https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/infamous-thefts/" section: News --- Our Customers Love Us! Insurance for Jewellery Collections [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/assetsure.com) [Home](/) › [Jewellery Insurance](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/) › [Insurance for Jewellery Collections](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/) › [What Infamous Thefts Teach Us](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/infamous-thefts/) # What Infamous Thefts Teach Us ### Protecting our Treasures Whether it’s a family heirloom, a symbol of love such as an engagement or wedding ring, or a sparkling [eternity ring](/jewellery/ring-insurance/what-is-an-eternity-ring/ "what is an eternity ring") bought for a milestone, jewellery pieces are more than just beautiful they typically hold deep sentimental value. And, sadly, our precious pieces are also magnets for crime, with thieves constantly finding new ways to target eternity rings, diamond rings, and other valuable items. In this article, we explore some of the most shocking jewellery thefts and scams in recent years - and highlight steps you can take to protect your treasured items. ### The Hatton Garden Heist – even vaults aren’t fool proof In one of the UK's most notorious recent crimes, a group of elderly “gentlemen” career criminals broke into a vault in [London’s Hatton Garden](/jewellery/safe-deposit-box-insurance/the-hatton-gardens-raid/ "hatton garden raid") district over the 2015 Easter weekend. Using tools to drill through a concrete wall, the gang accessed safe deposit boxes and stole an estimated £14m in cash, jewellery, and other valuables. #### Knightsbridge smash and grab, a luxury watch raid At around 9.30am on 27th November 2015, a moped gang stormed into luxury London store, Watches of Switzerland, smashing display cases and escaping with high end timepieces worth an estimated £40,000 and all in a matter of minutes. #### This highlights just how quickly and unexpectedly theft can occur. #### £10m in jewels stolen from Primrose Hill home In December 2024, a daring jewellery heist rocked London’s upscale Primrose Hill. Thieves made off with an estimated £10m worth of luxury items from the home of a well known socialite and influencer. Among the stolen pieces were a rare 10.73 carat Graff diamond ring and several delicate butterfly diamond rings from De Beers part of a carefully curated, high end collection. The burglary happened during daytime hours (between 5:00 and 5:30PM) while the homeowners were out. Despite top-tier security systems, the thief managed to gain access through a second-floor window, taking full advantage of the property's temporary vacancy. #### Conwoman who posed as gem expert stole £4.2m in diamonds A female fraudster posing as a gem appraiser orchestrated a £4.2m diamond theft during a high profile con at luxury jeweller Boodles in London’s Mayfair in March 2016. The conwoman who claimed to be acting on behalf of affluent Russian clients arrived at the boutique to inspect several high value diamonds. Under the guise of verifying them for a potential purchase, she was left alone momentarily this was long enough for her to swap the real stones for fakes using sleight-of-hand techniques. The deception wasn’t discovered until the following day, by which time she had already left the country. #### Airport luggage sting £3k diamond ring disappears in transit A London Heathrow Airport baggage handler was caught stealing from passengers’ checked luggage, including a diamond ring valued at nearly £3,000. The incident is a stark reminder of how easily valuable jewellery can vanish when out of sight and a reminder that you should never place your jewellery into the hold of a plane. You may find that insurance will not cover this event if it happens. #### Online overpayment scam – when too much is a red flag A growing number of fraudsters are exploiting jewellery sellers through an overpayment ruse. The scammer poses as a buyer, sends a payment for the jewellery that exceeds the agreed price, then claims the excess was a mistake and requests a refund. By the time the seller discovers the original payment was fraudulent or bounced, both the jewellery and the refund have vanished. #### Even celebrities aren’t immune Kim Kardashian in Paris, France In October 2016, Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room. The thieves stole around £7.5m in jewellery, including a stunning diamond ring, after gaining access by impersonating police officers. ### What can you do to stay protected? Here are some practical tips to help reduce your risk and ensure your jewellery is secure… ### General jewellery safety tips 1. Insure your items. Assetsure specialise in [insurance for diamond rings](/jewellery/diamond-ring-insurance/ "diamond ring insurance") and jewellery insurance. 2. Get an up-to-date valuation. Your jewellery should be [appraised and insured](/jewellery/jewellery-insurance/getting-a-jewellery-valuation/ "value your jewellery") so you know the true worth of your pieces. 3. Secure storage. Use safes, vaults, and secure display cases at home or in commercial settings. Pay attention to any special requirements of your insurance policy, and if in doubt, ask your insurer for clarification. 4. If your valuables are stored in a safety deposit box or similar, check that the bank has appropriate safety deposit box insurance and of any limits imposed. If they don’t, please get in touch with us at Assetsure to find out more about our flexible, standalone safety deposit box cover. 5. Travel smart. Always carry valuables in hand luggage. 6. Be discreet 1 – Think twice before sharing photos of your engagement ring or travel plans on social media. 7. Be discreet 2 - Never assume public areas are safe. 8. Even state-of-the-art home security systems may have blind spots, so regular security assessments, services and updates are essential. 9. Homeowners should vary their routines and ensure their properties appear occupied, especially during absences. #### If selling your jewellery 1. When selling a piece of your jewellery, never leave it unattended during appointments. And always double-check credentials, no matter how professional or convincing someone may seem. 2. Selling rings or engagement rings online can expose sellers to sophisticated fraud, so always use a trusted online platform. 3. It’s essential to verify that funds have cleared fully before dispatching any goods. 4. Be wary of buyers who complicate transactions or pressure for quick action. Whether you own a sparkling engagement ring, a priceless diamond ring, or a cherished piece of jewellery, protecting these items goes beyond sentiment it’s about smart risk management. Infamous thefts like the Hatton Garden heist or the Kim Kardashian robbery might seem worlds away, but they hold critical lessons for us all. With the right precautions and comprehensive jewellery insurance - you can enjoy your precious items without fear of loss. Our blog: [Safeguarding your jewellery](/jewellery/jewellery-insurance/safeguard-your-jewellery/ "Safeguarding your jewellery") has some more recommendations on keeping your valuables safe. ### Looking for jewellery insurance? Click here to learn more about specialised [insurance for rings, watches](/jewellery/ "jewellery insurance") and other valuable pieces - or call us on [0208 0033 190](tel:+442080033190 "Call Assetsure") for a no-obligation jewellery insurance quote. ## Latest News & Advice [![Jewellery you'll probably own by the age of 50](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/jewellery-box-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/jewellery-you-will-probably-own/) ### [Jewellery you'll probably own by the age of 50](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/jewellery-you-will-probably-own/) By the time you reach 50, your jewellery box has probably been decades in the making. Some pieces may have been with you since your teens or twenties.... [![Moving House Don't Forget Jewellery Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/moving-jewellery-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/moving-house-jewellery-insurance/) ### [Moving House Don't Forget Jewellery Insurance](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/moving-house-jewellery-insurance/) Moving house, planning ahead can help reduce these risks. It's also a good opportunity to review your jewellery insurance and make sure your cover is up to date.... [![How to Choose the Right Necklace Length](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/necklace.jpg)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/how-to-choose-the-right-necklace-length/) ### [How to Choose the Right Necklace Length](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/how-to-choose-the-right-necklace-length/) The devil is in the details when it comes to picking out the perfect necklace. These statement pieces of jewellery can be hard to purchase, particularly if you are buying online and can’t try them on beforehand. While we know you’ll look great in any type of necklace, we’ve put together a guide to help you pick the most flattering necklace length for your neck, face, and body shape so you can select a new necklace with confidence.... [More News](https://assetsure.com/news) ## Why choose our specialist insurance cover? ### Extensive Cover Our policy provides "All-risks" cover as standard. This means events such as loss or damage are covered with fewer exclusions and warranties. ### Worldwide Cover You are covered anywhere in the world for trips up to 60 days. ### Single Pieces or Collections We can insure single items of jewellery such as rings, earrings & pendants or whole collections. For smaller items you can insure on an "Unspecified basis" ### Protect your no claims bonus This is a "stand-alone" policy, any claim will not affect any no claims bonus you may have under your home insurance ### Excellent friendly claims service We are here to help you if you need to make a claim. We will liaise between you and the insurers to help settle your claim as quickly as possible. ### Members of BIBA We are members of the British Insurance Brokers Association,the UK's leading general insurance intermediary organisation. 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