Nearly $67 million worth of jewellery was stolen from the London home of British socialite Tamara Ecclestone, and her father — the former head of Formula 1 — believes it was an “inside job.”
Hours before the apparent heist occurred Friday night, Ecclestone, 35, left the country for the holidays. The home, located on “Billionaire’s Row” in Kensington, has 57 rooms and a 24-hour security team — leading her father Bernie Ecclestone to claim conspiracy.
“I don’t have all the facts but given all the security at the house, I’m assuming it was an inside job,” Ecclestone, who was head of the F1 racing empire until 2017, told The Sun. “The police should be able to work it out, shouldn’t they?”
Over the course of 50 minutes, three people allegedly broke past security checkpoints and into the mansion, where they stole earrings, rings, and a Cartier bracelet worth more than $106,000 from safes. They apparently ran when they were spotted by a security guard.
“Whoever did this was in the house for 50 minutes in total and had time to smash open the safes that are hidden in Tamara’s dressing room and [husband] Jay’s dressing room,” a neighbour told the news outlet. “Neither would be easy to find.”
A spokesperson for the family said: “Tamara and family are well but obviously angry and shaken by the incident.”
“I can sadly confirm that there has been a home invasion,” the spokesperson continued. “Internal security is cooperating with police in this matter.”
Bernie Ecclestone added: “Tamara is fine, she’s not happy but thank God no one was in the house. No one was at home apart from security. It’s all a bit funny at the moment. These things happen and you’ve got to get on with things.”
Dubbed “Billionaire’s Row,” Kensington Palace Gardens in West London is home to some of the most expensive houses in the world. The street is permanently guarded by Diplomatic Protection Group officers.
The Metropolitan Police Service said no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.