Professional thieves targeted luxury brands Chanel and Bulgari just hours apart on Monday.
At approximately 5.15am, a gang staged an audacious raid on the Chanel boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, driving an SUV through the front window. While Chanel has yet to disclose the extent of its losses, reports estimate losses range from €6 million to €10 million ($6.45 million to $10.75 million).
Before fleeing in a second vehicle, the four suspects set the first alight, although firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control. No one was hurt in the raid and the store is closed until further notice as police investigate.
On the same day in Rome a gang of thieves broke into the Bulgari store on Via Condotti, making off with jewellery and watches estimated to be worth €500,000.
The gang appear to have used the city's sewers to access a utility room underneath the store. As the Bulgari flagship, the Via Condotti outlet is known for its distinctive tiled floor, which the thieves smashed their way through.
According to the German Press Agency, despite triggering the alarm, the thieves fled the way they came before police arrived. The store is closed until further notice.
These are just the latest raids on big-name brands. On the same street as the Chanel burglary, jeweller Harry Winston was robbed on May 19 this year, when three suspects drove a motorbike into the store and brandished a firearm before making off with jewellery and watches thought to be worth several million euros.
It is not just stores that are targeted, either. In 2016, Kim Kardashian, who was pregnant at the time, was bound and left in the bath by armed raiders who forced the handcuffed concierge to open the door to her apartment. The gang of five made off with jewellery worth $10 million.
In September, meanwhile, French fashion house Balmain had its collection stolen ahead of Paris Fashion Week, forcing creative director Olivier Rousteing and his team to create an entirely new collection in just two weeks.
With leather bags, jewellery and watches selling for substantial sums – a large 2.55 Chanel flap bag, for example, has a ticket price of more than Dh46,000 – high-end brands are a prime target for those looking for a high-value haul. While brands continue to invest in greater security, such as double-door entry systems, reinforced walls and state-of-the-art camera surveillance, the value of goods means they remain vulnerable to attack.
However, continuing raids on jewellery houses and high-end boutiques are changing how cities look. A spate of car attacks on jewellery stores in Place Vendome in Paris, for example, resulted in bollards being positioned across the pavement to block vehicles getting close to the boutiques, while Bond Street in London has pedestrian-only stretches, with the narrow road further tightened to exclude large cars and vans in a bid to keep luxury stores safe.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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England Test squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
