Moment thief breaks into influencer’s luxurious London penthouse earlier than stealing £100,000 of jewelry and designer baggage
Video captured the moment a thief stole £100,000 of gold and diamond jewellery, along with designer handbags, from an influencer’s luxury London penthouse.
Luana Bastos had been travelling in her home country of Brazil when her apartment in the affluent Knightsbridge neighbourhood was ransacked.
A huge trove of valuable items were stolen in the theft in the early hours of Friday, February 27.
Footage from inside her home shows a masked figure wearing tracksuit trousers, trainers, and gloves creeping along the corridor.
At one moment, he walks over to the front door and peers through the spy hole, apparently scanning for anyone outside.
Ms Bastos has appealed to her 188,000 followers for their help in returning the stolen items, while the Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation.
She posted a desperate plea to Instagram, admitting she was overwhelmed by ‘the feeling of vulnerability and insecurity’, alongside pictures of the missing items.
Ms Bastos told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s thought they broke in by climbing the scaffolding at the back of the apartment.
Luana Bastos was travelling in Brazil when her apartment in Knightsbridge was burgled
A security camera in the hall captured a thief in a mask and gloves creeping around the house
Among the stolen items were Chanel handbags and diamond rings
‘Then they got onto the balcony and forced the living room window.
‘They stole five Chanel bags and a whole load of jewellery. The total value of the stolen item is close to £100,000.
‘London obviously feels a lot less safe to me now. I cannot understand how this could happen in central London.’
When she first heard the news about the theft, Ms Bastos wrote on social media: ‘Yesterday, while I was travelling in Brazil, my apartment in London was invaded.
‘They took bags, jewellery, shoes and other valuable items.
‘I am posting photos of some of the pieces we have already identified as stolen and kindly ask that you share.’
Ms Bastos asked her followers to keep an eye on websites that resell second-hand luxury goods in the hope of tracing the missing items.
She added that ‘everything suggests this was commissioned and carefully planned.’
‘We believe there was prior surveillance to gain access to the property,’ she said.
Ms Bastos manage to identify some of the stolen items, which included high-value pieces of jewellery
The influencer posted pictures of the stolen items on Instagram in the hope her followers may recognise them for sale online or in second-hand shops
The influencer said she was shocked the apartment could be broken into ‘without anyone noticing’, despite being in the busy area of Knightsbridge.
She is working with the Metropolitan Police to try to recover the stolen property and thanked the force for its efforts, noting that specialist officers are involved and the case is under constant review.
Ms Bastos said she had identified some of the missing valuables while still in Brazil, but that the total loss would only be clear when she returns home and can properly assess.
The Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail: ‘At around 00:25hrs on Friday, 27 February police received a report of a burglary at a property in Rutland Gate, Knightsbridge.
‘A suspect is believed to have gained entry via a balcony and stolen a number of high-value items, including designer handbags and jewellery.
‘Detectives have launched an investigation and are in contact with the victim. Their enquiries continue and no arrests have been made at this stage.
‘Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD 7551/27FEB or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
‘We are aware of the concern that incidents like this cause and we know tackling burglaries is a key priority for Londoners.
‘We are patrolling burglary hotspots in the area and our officers are committed to bringing offenders to justice.’
