An armed robbery hit the De Beers diamond store on rue de la Paix in Paris, near Place Vendôme, on Thursday, according to Europe 1 reporting that Le Figaro said it could confirm, News.ro reports.

Four people in balaclavas, armed with Kalashnikov-style long guns, entered the jewellery shop shortly after 11:00 local time (12:00 Romanian time).

“It was very quick, two or three minutes at most,” Alliance police 75 union delegate Fabien Bogais told Le Figaro. No one was injured, but staff were described as “in shock.”

The four fled on two motorcycles without an immediate police chase. “They are on the run. Judicial Police services have been notified,” Bogais said.

Social media posts spoke of more than a million euros in stolen goods; police did not immediately confirm the loss. Bogais said the store is robbed regularly, especially around the holidays.

The Place Vendôme–rue de la Paix corridor concentrates luxury houses and has seen other high-profile heists. Investigators are tracing the getaway route and seeking to identify the suspects.

No arrests were announced shortly after the raid. Paris Judicial Police are leading the inquiry into the four armed suspects.

Armed robbery at De Beers Paris store — News.ro

Image: Wikimedia Commons — Place Vendôme, Paris (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Sources consulted: Armed robbery at De Beers store in Paris — News.ro.