Telegraf at epicenter of Dresden robbery investigation: Police keep searching for clues and DNA

Foto: Telegraf/Tanjug/AP

Our reporters went straight to the epicenter of the investigation after the biggest robbery in recent German history - at the Green Vault Museum in Residenzschloss. The movie-like, incredible robbery of the treasure collection happened early on Monday, and diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphire from display cases were gone!

Investigative bodies are still in the field in the Dresden Museum, as well as a large number of police officers securing the area around the castle. Police spokesman Thomas Geithner also spoke to the assembled journalists on Tuesday afternoon, explaining that the robbery was well-organized, as tools used by the robbers had been found in a burned car in an underground garage below the August Bridge.

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"The underground parking lot is also a crime scene, we have secured all the tracks, and we will have to clarify who had access to the underground garage. It would mean a lot to us if the citizens got involved in the investigative part. The search for clues in the Green Vault continues. It is important to provide DNA traces," said the police spokesman.

Photo: Telegraf

"Searching for the thieves' DNA is not easy in a museum that is constantly open. There is no hot clue for now," the spokesman for the Dresden police told Telegraf.rs.

The theft of the artistic jewelry took place on Monday just before 5 am. First, a fire was started in the junction box on the August Bridge, moments later power was lost in the Dresden Museum, which was enough for the robbers to break into the Residenzschloss and take the valuable jewelry.

According to the police, the cameras stopped working at that moment, but several still managed to capture the "robbery of the century." The video shows two unidentified people ax-breaking a jewelry case. According to still unofficial information, the robbers entered the museum through the back window downstairs and then exited the same way, jumping over the large massive fence that surrounded it.

Photo: Telegraf

During the early-morning break-in, cameras captured a display case containing three precious 18th-century sets, jewelry and diamonds that belonged to Saxony ruler August the Strong.

Dirk Syndram, director of the Green Vault, also spoke about the missing treasure yesterday.

Photo: Telegraf

"The thieves stole less than they thought. Much of the diamond sets remained in the museum, even one priceless chain of pearls. We now have to return the gems that have been stolen. Security on patrol that morning received a warning about an break-in at the museum. When they saw on security cameras with what force the robbers were breaking the display cases, they did not decide to activate the the alarm, but immediately called the police, once they saw in which part the robbery was taking place. Still, the burglars managed to pull out a set of jewels in minutes, then fled through the window. A burned Audi car used by the robbers was identified in a parking lot shortly after the robbery," he said.

Photo: Telegraf

Around the museum yesterday, we could see a large number of citizens, and they are shocked by the robbery. Wolfgang Bear and his wife explained to us that this is a sad day for Saxony.

Wolfgang Bear with his wife, Photo: Telegraf

"It was a very good and well-organized group, they are professionals, very cleverly done. Except for the street lamps in this part where they entered it was totally dark so they prepared well, the whole street was dark without electricity because they caused a fire in the underground garage, one car was set on fire and then they left in another. Perfectly organized. This is a disaster, they have stolen unique stones," this citizen of Dresden told Telegraf.

Residenzschloss was still under strong security measures on Tuesday, and as the museum claims, the world-renowned jewelry vault will not open to the public for a long time.

(Dragana Ivanic)