Pub thief jailed over £2.2m Fabergé theft

Pub Burglar Sentenced for £2.2m Fabergé Heist

A man identified as Enzo Conticello, 29, has been handed a two-year-and-three-month prison term for stealing a handbag containing a priceless Fabergé egg and a luxury watch set valued at up to £2.2 million from a pub in central London. The theft occurred on 7 November 2024, when Conticello, who also goes by the name Hakin Boudjenoune, took advantage of a moment of vulnerability.

Rosie Dawson had left her handbag positioned between her legs on the ground outside the Dog and Duck pub in Soho. The bag was later found to hold the Fabergé items, which she had brought to a work event earlier that evening. The stolen goods—comprising a jeweled egg, watch, and other valuables—have not been recovered since the incident.

Crime and Motive

Conticello was linked to the theft after attempting to use Dawson’s bank cards at a nearby store shortly after the crime. The court learned he had given the bag to a drug dealer to purchase cocaine, driven by a desire for quick financial gain. His lawyer, Katie Porter-Windley, argued that Conticello was unaware of the items’ true worth at the time.

“On the night in question, it was a moment of opportunity which he took, and he is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour,” said Porter-Windley.

Porter-Windley emphasized that Conticello had previously worked as a chef but lost his job during the pandemic, leading to a struggle with cocaine addiction. She noted that the thief did not recognize the exceptional value of the Fabergé collection, which includes a rare egg, watch, whisky bottle, cigars, and a humidor.

Fabergé’s Prestige

Fabergé, a renowned Russian luxury brand established in 1842, is celebrated for its intricate gemstone-encrusted eggs. Insurers compensated Dawson’s employers at the Craft Irish Whiskey Company with £106,700 for the loss, though prosecutors highlighted that only seven such sets exist globally.

Recorder Kate Livesey, during the sentencing, described the theft as “opportunistic” and noted the significant impact on Dawson and her company. “Ms Dawson described the particular shock and panic upon realising a bag containing items of such particular value owned by the company had been stolen,” Livesey added, stressing the stress caused by the incident.

Det Con Arben Morina, leading the investigation, stated that Conticello “thought nothing of helping himself to someone else’s possessions” and now faces the consequences of his greed. Police continue their search for the missing Fabergé items, which remain a mystery over a year after the theft.

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