French Riviera jewelry store robbed of $16 million

PARIS (AP) – A French official says a robber with a hand grenade and an automatic handgun has stolen diamond necklaces and other jewelry from a Harry Winston store in the French Riviera city of Cannes.

Alain Guimbard, a deputy prosecutor in nearby Grasse, said Wednesday that the robber gained entry to the luxury jeweler on the seaside avenue La Croisette by pretending to be a customer.

Guimbard told The Associated Press the robber then forced employees to give him diamond jewelry from a display window and other pieces.

The holdup lasted only a few minutes. Guimbard says the robber escaped and no one was injured.

The stolen merchandise is estimated to be worth 15 million euros ($16 million.)

Harry Winston is a New York-based jeweler that often adorns actresses at the Academy Awards.

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