Thieves stole priceless royal artifacts in a daring raid on a Swedish cathedral before escaping by speedboat, police said.
The thieves made off with jewels belonging to former Swedish monarchs Karl IX and Kristina from the Strängnäs Cathedral to the west of the capital, Stockholm, on Tuesday.
Two crowns and a golden orb adorned with a crucifix were taken from the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, according to a police report. The items date from the early 17th century.
Quickly, police launched a manhunt, with helicopters and boats, but they found no trace of the two men.
Swedes concerned about national pride in the wake of the heist, police have said that the jewels are a little too priceless to sell. “What usually happens with this type of object is that they are recovered sooner or later, because there are very few people who are prepared to handle such items,” the police spokesman said.
