Thief who snatched handbag in London pub stunned after finding £2m Fabergé egg inside

A thief who snatched a handbag from a woman drinking in a Soho pub got far more than he bargained for when he discovered it contained a Fabergé egg and watch worth more than £2million.

Enzo Conticello, 29, targeted Rosie Dawson on Bateman Street in London’s West End on November 7, 2024, making off with her bag containing the precious item, along with a laptop and credit cards.

The luxury pieces belong to The Craft Irish Whiskey Company, where Ms Dawson works as director of premium brands.

Despite ongoing efforts by the Metropolitan Police, both the ornate egg and the watch remain missing.

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After the theft, Conticello used Ms Dawson’s credit card to buy drinks, cigarettes and other items at nearby shops.

The defendant, who is also known as Hakim Boudjenoune and is believed to be from Algeria, has no fixed address.

Ms Dawson’s laptop was stolen alongside the extraordinarily valuable Fabergé pieces, crafted by the famed Russian jewellery house renowned for its elaborate, gem-encrusted eggs made for the Russian imperial family.

Met detectives eventually tracked Conticello to Belfast, arresting him on 26 January - more than two months after the Soho theft.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court in a grey prison tracksuit, he pleaded guilty to theft and three counts of fraud by false representation, and was remanded in custody.

He did not enter a plea to a separate charge of concealing criminal property, namely the missing egg and watch.

Judge Martin Griffiths told the defendant: "I expect it was probably quite a surprise to you when you discovered that egg.

"What you did with it I don't quite know, but I expect we're going to find out."

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Police say inquiries into the whereabouts of the items are ongoing.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Company partnered with Fabergé in 2021 to create a limited seven-piece whiskey collection.

Each set included a 30-year-old bottle of Irish whiskey, a bespoke Celtic Egg and an 18-carat rose gold Altruist watch.

The collection honours the Seven Wonders of Ireland, with each egg featuring a pavé diamond Celtic knot and housing an uncut Zambian emerald.

One of the sets sold for $2.8million at auction in 2024, setting a world record for the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold.

It has not been confirmed whether the stolen items form part of that collection.

A further hearing is scheduled for March 6

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