Art theft - Stolen jewels returned to the Green Vault in Dresden
The jewels that were stolen nearly five years ago from the Historic Green Vault in Dresden and later returned are back in Saxony's Treasury Museum. The Saxon State Art Collections (SKD) are displaying them in their current, unrestored state, as they were returned by the thieves in December 2022.
"We are thrilled and very grateful, today is a beautiful day for us," said Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, also on behalf of Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch (both CDU), during the presentation. SKD General Director Marion Ackermann spoke of a "particularly beautiful moment," giving the public the "opportunity to view" the jewelry. In the special light of their display case, the jewelry pieces sparkle like the others that the thieves did not get their hands on. Only upon close inspection can damages be seen. "We currently assume that all pieces are restorable," said Ackermann. The concept for this is being developed with international experts. However, they are still evidence pieces in ongoing criminal proceedings related to this high-profile case.
Opening to the public from Wednesday
From Wednesday, visitors can view them, and from Thursday, opening hours will be extended until 8:00 PM. Access to the reconstructed rooms on the ground floor of the Residenzschloss is only possible with timed tickets - the SKD are now giving away 1,000 free tickets online.
The art theft on November 25, 2019, is considered one of the most spectacular in Germany. The perpetrators made off with 21 unique historical jewelry pieces made of diamonds and rubies, causing over one million euros in damage. Five young men from the Remmo clan were sentenced to prison terms by the Dresden Regional Court in May 2023 for theft, as well as arson of a getaway car in the underground garage of a residential building and a power distributor. At the end of the evidence hearing, they returned the majority of the loot through their lawyers, but three prominent objects with large stones are still missing. Kretschmer and Ackermann hope that they will also return one day and can be displayed again in their original location.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view the returned jewels from the Historic Green Vault in Dresden starting from Wednesday. These precious items were stolen during the notable art theft in Dresden on November 25, 2019.
