$28 Million in Diamonds Stolen from ABN Amro Vault

120,000 carats of diamonds worth $28 million were stolen from an ABN Amro bank vault in Antwerp last Monday. The goods, belonging to eight local diamond companies, were reportedly stolen by a middle-aged client that used a false identity.

A €2 million ($2.64 million) reward is being offered for help leading to the capture and arrest of the thief.

According to Antwerp World Diamond Center spokesman Philip Claes, “The stolen diamonds were owned by eight Antwerp-based diamond trading companies and given as a pledge to bank loans.”

“Among the diamonds stolen was a 133 carat uncut diamond, which would be very difficult to sell in the market,” Claes told Bloomberg, adding that information identifying the gems would be sent to all diamond trading centers in the world.

Among the stolen goods are 41 blue brilliants diamonds and two pear-shaped green diamonds, according to Claes.

According to prosecutors, the suspect was identified as Carlos Hector Flomenbaum, about 55-60 years old. Although Flomenbaum used an Argentine passport, stolen in Israel a few years ago, he speaks with an American accent. He has gray hair, stands 1.90 meters (6”3’) tall and often wears a baseball cap.

He was the last person to visit the vault room on March 2, and the first to enter on March 5, according to the prosecutor's statement. Police are investigating whether he had inside help.

ABN Amro, with its branch on Pelikaanstraat in the heart Antwerp’s diamond district, is the largest financier of the global diamond industry. The bank has declined to comment on the theft.

In February 2003, 123 of the 160 safes in the Grunberger building vault were broken into. Thieves made off with diamonds and other valuables worth $100 million. A week later, four Italians were arrested. In May 2005, they were sentenced to five to ten years in jail and heavy fines.

The stolen goods were never recovered. At the time it was estimated that many of the diamonds were not insured.