Jewellery worth more than US$1 million due to be loaned to stars treading the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival was stolen in a pre-dawn heist on Friday but the coveted Palme d’Or trophy was safe, officials said.
In a scenario itself worthy of a movie, thieves broke into the room of an American employee of Swiss bijoutier Chopard, ripped a safe off the wall and made off with the jewels, according to police reports.
The robbery took place at around 5.00am at the Novotel hotel, 15 minutes from the festival venue, they said.
Chopard is one of the official sponsors of the festival, and one of its stores, complete with its own red carpet, lies on the palm-fringed beachfront, just opposite the venue.
The jeweller redesigned the Palme d’Or trophy and each year lends out jewellery to stars for their walk up the red-carpeted steps at the Palais des Festivals.
The photo-calls are hugely valuable to makers of gowns and jewellery, providing media exposure around the world.
An official linked to the festival said the trophy was safe.