Priceless Crown Jewels Stolen, Thieves Flee on Motorboat in Sweden
Swedish law enforcement officials have found themselves living out a real-life James Bond scenario after priceless crown jewels were stolen on July 31.
The brazen heist took everyone by surprise. Two royal crowns and one royal orb, belonging to 17th-century monarchs, were stolen from Strängnäs Cathedral in southeastern Sweden.
The historic jewels belonged to King Karl IX and Queen Kristina.
According to officials, the jewels were locked away in a glass box when a team of two men stole them.
The two men were seen fleeing the cathedral and speeding away in a motorboat.
Police are pursuing the watercraft, searching all possible directions the thieves may have fled.
“We have some different information about how exactly the boat looked,” police spokesman Thomas Agnevik said.
“We are now examining all the tips we receive.”
Finding the men who have stolen an important piece of Sweden’s history is of top priority.
“I have talked to someone at the county administrative board that says it is not possible to put an economic value on them,” said Agnevik.
“These are invaluable objects of national interest.”
The upsetting heist affects the entire country, said Christofer Lundgren, dean of the cathedral.
“This is part of the national cultural heritage — this is a theft from Swedish society,” he said.
Strängnäs Cathedral was open to the public when the theft took place.
Guards were on duty, according to Royal Centre Media correspondent Oskar Aanmoen, but did not notice the theft until it was too late.
The cathedral will remain closed for an investigation.
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