Three and a half weeks after breaking into the Dresden Green Vault, a private investigator caused a sensation with a million-dollar offer. The man explained in a video that an anonymous art patron from the German-speaking area wanted to pay the perpetrators 1.3 million euros for the return of the jewels.
The lender was only concerned with preventing destruction of the loot and getting the jewelry back to its original place, it said. In the event of success, the patron wants to reveal his identity.
It remained unclear how serious the offer is. According to the Dresden Attorney General Jürgen Schmidt, such private claims are generally permitted. The offer did not affect the investigation, he said.
photo gallery
19 pictures
Break into the Green Vault: These jewels were stolen by the thievesOn November 25, two unknown perpetrators entered the treasury in Dresden Castle early in the morning through a barred window and smashed a showcase into the jewel room with an ax. After a few minutes, they fled with priceless jewelry. So far there is apparently no hot trace.
Police of Saxony
Most recently, the investigators had released a photo of the escape vehicle from a surveillance camera, which the thieves set on fire in an underground garage after the break-in. A reward of half a million euros was given for references to the unknown perpetrators, and the special commission "Epaulette" was increased.
According to the Dresden State Art Collections, eleven complete ornaments and parts from two other jewelry objects as well as a few rock buttons were stolen. These are fewer pieces of jewelry than initially feared. The perpetrators are still on the run. The police assume four perpetrators.