PARIS – Lloyd’s of London hopes to catch a thief.
The British insurance company backing the Leviev brand announced in a statement this morning that it is offering a $1.3 million (€1 million) reward for information leading to the recovery of the jewels stolen from Cannes’ Carlton Hotel in last week’s historic heist.
PHOTOS: 50 Never-Before-Seen Talent Portraits From Cannes
The missing jewels, taken from an exhibit by Dubai-based jeweler Leviev in a brazen daytime break-in, are worth an estimated $136 million (€103 million).
“A reward of up to 1 million euros pro rata is offered to the first person who provides information which leads to recovery of the goods. Offer subject to certain conditions,” the insurance company said in the statement advising “persons with specific information” to get in contact.
In a move designed to make reaching company officials easier, Lloyd’s set up a Gmail account with the very direct and luckily available email address, “reward1millionE@gmail.com” for possible informers to use.
The announcement will be published in French newspapers Wednesday, accompanied by photos of the pilfered pieces.
STORY: After Carlton Heist, Cannes Crime Spree Continues
A lone gunman entered the exhibit through an unlocked door and within minutes made off with the record amount. In total, 72 items were stolen, including 34 “exceptional” pieces worth several million euros each.
Though the Carlton incident was largest jewel heist in the history of France, it was just the latest in a series of thefts in Cannes. Two high-profile thefts rocked the Cannes Film Festival in May, with $1.4 million in jewels taken from a Chopard employee’s hotel room and a $2.6 million necklace mysteriously going missing from the annual De Grisogono party just days later. A suspect in the Chopard case is now being held in Spain.
With high-profile jewel thefts and other crime rampant in the small seaside resort town, police, regional government and company representatives are working together to protect big brands’ goods by creating a safety committee that will convene its first meeting on Thursday.
