Record reward for jewel theft

A RECORD €700,000 reward is being offered in a bid to recover €85 million worth of stolen jewellery from Harry Winston’s in Paris.

Insurers Lloyd’s of London is offering the pay out - the biggest in France’s history - to the first person giving information which leads to the recovery of the jewellery, stolen last Friday from the famous American jewellers.

It will be a maximum of €700,000, calculated on a pro rata basis depending on the jewellery recovered.

Lloyds offered a €400,000 reward for information after a €20 million hold up of a Harry Winston store in October 2007. No one has since come forward.

A source close to the investigation said it was possible that the same group was behind both thefts.

Photo:AFP/Lionel Bonaventure