Pub thief jailed over £2.2m Fabergé theft
A High-Value Crime in Central London
Enzo Conticello, 29, has been sentenced to over two years in prison for stealing a handbag containing a rare Fabergé egg and a watch set valued at up to £2.2 million from a pub in central London. The incident occurred on 7 November 2024, when Conticello, also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, took the bag from Rosie Dawson as she stood outside the Dog and Duck in Soho.
The Stolen Treasures
The items were inside the handbag after Dawson had brought them out for display at a work event earlier that evening. The Fabergé egg, adorned with emeralds, and the accompanying watch set were not recovered following the theft. Conticello’s actions were motivated by “easy money,” according to the court, as he used the stolen credit cards in a nearby shop shortly after the crime.
“On the night in question, it was a moment of opportunity which he took, and he is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour.”
Background of the Fabergé Collection
Fabergé, a Russian jewelry brand established in 1842, is renowned for its elaborate gem-encrusted eggs. The court learned that only seven such sets exist worldwide, each including a jeweled egg, watch, whisky bottle, cigars, and a humidor. Insurers initially compensated Dawson’s employer, the Craft Irish Whiskey Company, with £106,700 for the loss.
Theft and Its Consequences
Conticello was linked to the crime after using Dawson’s bank cards in a nearby shop within minutes of stealing the bag. His barrister, Katie Porter-Windley, argued that Conticello, who once worked as a chef, lost his job during the pandemic and fell into cocaine addiction. She noted that he didn’t recognize the items’ extraordinary value at the time.
“So extraordinary that he wouldn’t know on the face of it whether that was high value or not.”
Recorder Kate Livesey emphasized the “inconvenience and stress” the theft caused Dawson and her company. “Ms Dawson described the particular shock and panic upon realising a bag containing items of such particular value owned by the company had been stolen,” Livesey added, highlighting the incident’s emotional impact.
Ongoing Investigation
Policemen continue their search for the missing Fabergé items. Det Con Arben Morina, leading the case, stated: “Conticello thought nothing of helping himself to someone else’s possessions, and he now faces a prison sentence as a result of his greed.”
