Australian authorities have apprehended four French nationals in connection with an audacious cross-continental burglary operation targeting high-value luxury items. The suspects, aged between 28 and 37, allegedly traveled specifically from France to Australia in October to execute a meticulously planned heist that netted over 70 luxury items from a property in Canberra.
The stolen collection included an exceptionally rare Richard Mille ‘Smiley’ timepiece valued at approximately A$5 million (US$3.3 million), distinguished by its yellow gold smiley face motif and pink flamingo design. Additional items taken comprised luxury handbags, high-end jewelry, and other premium watches from renowned luxury houses.
According to police reports, the operation unfolded with cinematic precision. Just four days following the burglary, Australian law enforcement located and arrested the quartet at a Sydney KFC outlet. Subsequent raids on a rented Sydney property yielded recovery of several stolen items, including multiple Hermès handbags.
Detective Acting Inspector Battye expressed astonishment at the international scale of the criminal operation, noting: ‘I’ve been in the job for a long time. I’ve never seen a burglary of this magnitude… and with people flying over from the other side of the world.’
In a coordinated international effort, French authorities have recovered additional items that were allegedly stolen during a separate burglary in Sydney’s affluent Vaucluse suburb and subsequently shipped to France.
Despite these recoveries, several exceptional pieces remain missing, including two Hermès diamond double rings, a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace featuring signature four-leaf clover designs, and two Patek Philippe watches. Police have characterized these missing items as particularly distinctive and valuable, noting they would be difficult to dispose of on conventional markets.
The four accused appeared in court on Thursday and are scheduled to return for further proceedings in January. Australian police maintain that the incidents represent a targeted operation by individuals who specifically traveled to Australia to commit these offenses.