Thieves steal Sweden’s crown jewels and escape in a speedboat

Sweden’s royal family still regularly captures Europe's attention with glamour, gossip — and the shiny crown jewels that are put on public display whenever the occasion merits it.

That particular part of the century-old tradition will become much more difficult now that at least some of the priceless Swedish crown jewels are no longer in the hands of the royal family. Around noon on Tuesday, two thieves stole a 17th-century orb and two golden crowns from a cathedral near Stockholm where they had been on display in a glass box, before escaping by speedboat into the Malaren lake, which spans 74 miles and is filled with hundreds of small islands.

A spokeswoman for the cathedral said Wednesday that an alarm went off after the two men accessed the jewels and that security precautions were in accordance with strict guidelines.

Even though the royal family appears to have insurance covering the jewels, officials stressed the value could hardly be measured or replaced. “It is not possible to put an economic value on this. It is invaluable items of national interest,” police spokesman Thomas Agnevik told Swedish media.
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