Four arrested in US$100m Antwerp diamond robbery

A Dutch woman and three Italian men are being held by Belgian police in connection with one of the country’s biggest-ever diamond heists.

The four suspects are being held on suspicion of stealing diamonds thought to be worth about US$100 million.

The precise value of the stolen diamonds has not been revealed, but more than 120 of the 160 vaults at the Antwerp Diamond Centre were emptied.

An earlier robbery involving only five vaults resulted in estimated losses of US$4.5 million.

A report said the four suspects had previously rented office space in the building.

Many of the traders whose diamonds were taken reside in foreign countries, and have not provided police with details on the contents of the vaults and their value.

The Diamond Centre is in the heart of Antwerp’s historic diamond district and is closely guarded. There are surveillance cameras, entry codes, 24-hour security guards, and even cameras in the vaults.

With no signs of a break-in, police suspect the thieves had inside help.