Scotland Yard Foils Heist of 203 Carat Diamond

In commemoration of the spectacular "would-be" diamond heist on London's Millennium Dome, the Diamond Trade Commission (DTC) this week presented the capital's police department with a replica of the stunning 'Millennium Star'.

The Millennium Star, one of the finest diamonds in the world, was on display as part of the De Beers collection of diamonds at the Millennium Dome when it became the target of a gang of thieves. The Star, widely regarded as the purest and most beautiful of diamonds in the world was the chief attraction of the collection, and the centerpiece of the Dome's opening night when a laser was shone through it, throwing shafts of light around the entire Dome. It is a D-color, internally and externally flawless pear-shaped stone of 203.04 carats.

The diamonds were housed in the Dome's high-security Diamond Experience when a gang of five wannabe diamond thieves attempted to bulldoze their way into the Dome. The set of 12 diamonds in the collection were insured to the value of 150M Pounds.

The thieves bulldozed their way into the Thames-side tourist attraction shortly after the Dome opened that morning and attempted to gain access to the armored-glass display case using sledgehammers and a nail gun. Other gang members threw smoke grenades towards tourists and staff, while another stayed outside in the 'dozer. A boat, skippered by the final member of the gang was waiting to take them across the Thames to a getaway van parked by a creek on the other side.

Unfortunately for them, authorities had already received word of the planned heist and were lying in wait for the thieves. The Star itself and the collection of 11 rare blue diamonds surrounding it had already been substituted with replicas an added security measure.

The real Millennium Star was crafted from one of the biggest rough diamonds ever mined. The 777-carat stone was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1990 and was later fashioned into the 203-carat gem that was on display in the Millennium Dome.

The replica of the famed diamond awarded to the police for their ingenuity in capturing the bandits, will be permanently on display in New Scotland Yard's Crime Museum. "The replica Millennium Star will act as a lasting reminder of one of our most successful operations," Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said at the presentation ceremony last Thursday.

FYI:

The Guinness Book of Records says the world's biggest jewelry robbery took place in August 1994, when three thieves burst into the most famous Carlton Hotel in Cannes. Firing machine guns, they robbed the Carlton's jewelry store just as it was being closed. They made off with £30m in jewels. It was later discovered that the rounds they had been firing were in fact blanks. If the Millennium Dome diamond robbery had been a success and the Millennium Star taken, it would have dwarfed this theft.

Although priceless, the crown jewels at the Tower of London have only once attracted the efforts of thieves. In 1671, one Colonel Blood gained entry to the Tower, dressed in the robes of a priest. Along with two accomplices, he overpowered the guards and exited with the crown, orb and sceptre. The plan fell apart with the getaway. The Colonel only made it to the East Gate of the Tower. Fortunately for him, in days not renowned for the lenient treatment of criminals, Blood was pardoned by Charles II.