The show, which opened its doors for the 30th time on Saturday, brought together 1,012 participants from over 29 countries and drew in more than 13,000 visitors in its first day. The next day, however, brought the unexpected bad news of the theft.
According to the Cihan news agency, HRD Antwerp, a jeweler displaying goods at the fair, brought out several high-priced items from locked display cases at the request of five well-dressed individuals. After some of the individuals distracted the stand workers, four items -- worth approximately 100,000 euros -- were stolen. After the stand workers realized that the jewelry had been stolen, they called the police, who dispatched many officers to the scene. Fingerprints were analyzed and security tapes are being reviewed. Security cameras showed five well-dressed individuals coming up to the stand. The stand workers were taken to the police station to give their statements. The suspects are still at large.
