Two British siblings have been locked up in Switzerland after they confessed to breaking into a Geneva museum to steal famed Chinese Ming Dynasty artifacts worth around $3.8 million, or about £3 million, according to BBC.
Rue Munier-Romilly 8, Geneva. Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Arts. Taken on August 2, 2011.
Three-Man Heist at the Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva
Both Stewart and Louis Ahearne, who hailed from Greenwich, South London, have been sentenced by a Swiss court to three years and six months in prison each last Jan. 16, following their admittance.
As per their testimonies, shared by The Metropolitan Police, they were part of a three-man gang that enacted a heist against the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva, Switzerland.
This high-profile criminal operation transpired in June of 2019, resulting in the theft of two Ming Dynasty vases and a cup that are all dated around the 15th century.
According to a statement by Geneva's Palais de Justice President Patrick Monney, the act itself was deliberate and meticulously planned, saying, "After checking out the configuration the day before they know where they are going to the point they run once inside."
"Everything was prepared and organized. Everything was very quick," he added.
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How the British Brothers Were Caught
As to how the authorities caught the British brothers, they reportedly traced a DNA sample found in the crime scene back to Stewart Ahearne by running it through an international database.
Detectives working the case lured out the brothers, both of whom were still living in South London by then, to a hotel within the city under the guise of "buying" a vase they had on hand for £450,000, or $570,000.
The Ahearne siblings were promptly arrested following that sting operation and were handed over to Switzerland where they admitted to their crimes.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb told the South China Morning Post: "The Ahearne brothers meticulously planned this burglary, carrying out careful reconnaissance to ensure they could make a clean getaway and bring the items back to the UK."
Aside from the brothers, three other individuals were sentenced for possessing criminal property after the attempt to sell one of the vases.
As for the ancient "Doucai style" Chinese cup, police said it is still missing and that they are currently offering £10,000 for any information that may lead to its recovery. The cup itself fashions a repeated design depicting chickens on the side.
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