German police seize bulk of the booty from the $120 million Dresden diamond heist

BERLIN, (Reuters) – A majority of the $120 million heist jewels that were stolen from a Dresden historic art collection have been recovered by German police.

According to authorities, investigators in Berlin were able to secure the 31 pieces including a Polish Order of the White Eagle’s breast star and an ornate diamond-head-dress.

They were returned after negotiations between defense lawyers and prosecutors for the Germans on trial for their November 2019 break-in at Gruenes Gewoelbe Museum.

All told, the pieces taken from Europe’s finest art collection contained more than 4,300 gems worth more than 113 millions euros ($120 million).

Prosecutors say the thieves sawed through a part of a window grilling in advance, and then reattached the piece to gain access to the building as fast possible during the heist.

Authorities stated that specialists will examine the returned pieces “to confirm their authenticity” and “to ensure their intactness.”

There are still pieces missing, including an epaulette in which a precious gemstone known as the Dresden White Diamond was mounted.

($1 = 0.9450 euros)

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt, editing by John Stonestreet).