Felix Prakopetz has been arrested in Israel on suspicion of pulling off the world's sweetest diamond heist. Prakopetz is suspected of switching $2.5 million in diamonds with candy in Switzerland.
An international investigation has revealed that Prakopetz allegedly swindled the managers of a Swiss diamond firm when he switched the diamonds for candy and reportedly absconded to Israel. Authorities suspect that Prakopetz and his accomplice, an Israeli residing abroad, stole the diamonds in April 2009 during a meeting in the offices of a Geneva diamond dealer. At the time, Prakopetz was living in Belgium and introduced himself to the diamond dealers under a false identity.
Prakopetz allegedly told the dealers that he wanted to trade diamonds in Russia. After gaining the company owners' trust, Prakopetz and his partner met with two of the firm's partners in the company's Geneva office. Prakopetz reportedly examined the diamonds he was shown and was supposed to put them into sacks that were placed inside a box.
He and the company managers then agreed that the box would be placed in a safe and given to the purchasers only after the diamonds had been paid for, which was supposed to happen within a few days.
The heist came to light after the firm's managers tried to reach Prakopetz by telephone for two days and noticed that the diamonds in the safe had been switched for candy. The Swiss police discovered that Prakopetz and his partner had left their Geneva hotel the same morning of the theft and that Prakopetz later left for Belgium with his family, leaving no trace
Eventually, Prakopetz was discovered in Israel, having entered the country under an assumed identity. His partner was arrested in Holland at the end of 2009, extradited to Switzerland, and is awaiting trial.
Two Arrested for Alleged Diamond Theft at Singapore Jewellry Show
Singapore police have arrested two men suspected of stealing two diamonds worth $10,000 from a diamond dealer exhibiting at the Singapore International Jewellry Show.
According to police, two officers on patrol saw the two men at one of the show's booths and noted their suspicious behavior – while one had engaged the exhibitor in conversation, the second appeared to be taking something. They reportedly left the booth together, in a hurry.
The police officers opened in pursuit and managed to stop them outside the jewelry show venue, where one of the men was found in possession of the two stones.
The suspects, 39 and 42, were awaiting charges.
In a separate incident at the trade show, police noticed a Filipina woman who appeared to be following visitors and attempting to pickpocket them. The woman, 43, was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft.
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