Thieves steal the Swedish crown jewels from a cathedral then escape on a motorboat

The Swedish crown jewels were taken by thieves (Picture: Yahoo Magazines)
The Swedish crown jewels were taken by thieves (Picture: Yahoo Magazines)

The Swedish crown jewels have been stolen by thieves who escaped in a motorboat.

The royal treasures were taken from a cathedral in Sweden where they were on display.

Two people allegedly stole two crowns and an orb used by King Karl IX and Queen Kristina from Strangnas Cathedral on Tuesday.

The items had previously been stored in their tomb.

It is believed the thieves fled via the vast system of lakes west of Stockholm.

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Police have been searching for the culprits with a helicopter and boats, but no arrests have been made.

Maria Ellior, of the Swedish police’s National Operations Department, told Sweden’s TT news agency the items are “impossible to sell”.

The Swedish royal family’s jewels have been stolen (Picture: Yahoo Magazines)
The Swedish royal family’s jewels have been stolen (Picture: Yahoo Magazines)

“It’s 1-0 to them right now,” police spokesperson Thomas Agnevik said.

“It is not possible to put an economic value on this, it is invaluable items of national interest.”

No one was hurt during the heist but church staff were said to be shaken.

The jewels are encrusted with gold, pearls and precious stones and are from the 1611 funeral regalia of Sweden’s Charles IX and Kristina the Elder.

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