Australian police have uncovered what they describe as one of the most audacious burglary cases in recent years, involving four French nationals accused of stealing luxury goods worth millions of dollars in a targeted operation.
The suspects, aged between 28 and 37, allegedly travelled from France to Australia in October with the sole purpose of carrying out high-end burglaries, according to investigators from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Police.
Their primary target was a private residence in Canberra, where police say the group broke in and made off with more than 70 luxury items, including rare watches, jewellery and designer handbags.
Among the most valuable items allegedly stolen was a Swiss-made Richard Mille “Smiley” watch, valued at approximately A$5 million. The distinctive timepiece features a yellow gold smiley face and a pink flamingo design.
Luxury handbags from French fashion house Hermès, along with other high-end jewellery and watches, were also taken during the Canberra burglary, which police say was meticulously planned.
Detective Acting Inspector Aaron Battye described the case as unprecedented in his career, likening the operation to a Hollywood-style crime plot due to its scale and international nature.
“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,” Battye told Australia’s ABC News.
Just four days after the Canberra break-in, the four men were arrested at a KFC outlet in Sydney, following an intensive multi-agency investigation that tracked their movements across state lines.
Police later raided a rented property in Sydney where they recovered several of the stolen items, including multiple Hermès handbags believed to have been taken during the Canberra burglary.
Investigators also linked the suspects to a separate burglary in Vaucluse, one of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs, where additional luxury items were allegedly stolen and shipped to France.
French authorities have since confirmed that some of those items sent overseas have been recovered, highlighting the international cooperation involved in the case.
Despite the recoveries, police say several highly valuable pieces remain missing, including two Hermès rings, one of which is a diamond double ring.
Also unaccounted for are a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace featuring the brand’s iconic four-leaf clover motif and two Patek Philippe watches, each considered extremely rare and valuable.
“These items are distinctive, valuable and cannot be easily on-sold,” police said in a statement, noting that their uniqueness makes them easier to trace on the global luxury market.
Authorities believe the burglaries were not opportunistic but rather carefully targeted, with the alleged offenders conducting prior research into their victims and the items they possessed.
“This is believed to have been a targeted operation by the alleged offenders, who travelled to Australia specifically to commit these offences,” police added.
The four men appeared in court on Thursday, where they faced multiple charges related to burglary and handling stolen property. They have been remanded in custody.
The case has been adjourned until January, when the accused are due to return to court as investigations continue and police work to recover the remaining stolen items.
Australian authorities say the investigation is ongoing and have urged anyone with information about the missing luxury goods to come forward.