Four men charged over alleged theft of luxury items worth more than $10m, including unique $5.8m ‘Smiley’ watch

Four French nationals have been charged over an alleged $10 million “targeted” burglary in Canberra, with police revealing multiple items – including a rare and unique “Smiley” watch – remain missing. The theft was allegedly conducted by four French nationals who travelled specifically to Australia to steal the items from the home. ACT Police allege the men broke into the home last month and stole 70 luxurious items, including handbags, necklaces, rings and watches, worth an estimated $10 million. Police recovered some of the stolen property just five days after being stolen, including multiple Hermes handbags, in a short-term rental home in the greater western Sydney suburb of Wentworthville. However, a Richard Mille RM88 (Smiley) watch worth up to $5.8m dollars and two Patek Philippe watches worth over $2.5m remain missing. Hermes Chaos and Gavroche rings estimated at $76,7000 and a Van Cleef Seoul necklace worth $125,000 are also missing. Police are appealing for public assistance to locate the items which are “distinctive, valuable and cannot be easily on-sold”. “Liaison with NSW Police and French authorities has occurred in an effort to locate items stolen but not yet recovered. Engagement with AFP and French police has resulted in some stolen items sent from Australia being recovered in France,” a spokesperson from ACT police said. It is alleged the men travelled in and out of the ACT multiple times with a rented Mitsubishi Outlander before allegedly committing the thefts. All four were arrested in a fast food restaurant in Wentworthville, Sydney. The French nationals have been extradited to the ACT and have each been charged with aggravated burglary – intent to commit theft and joint commission theft.