[MSN] Police Search for Stolen Faberge Eggs

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Police Search for Stolen Faberge Eggs

VIENNA, Austria — Authorities said Thursday they hope DNA tests and 
fingerprint analysis will help track down the thieves who stole up to $1 
million worth of Faberge eggs and other artworks from a Vienna palace.

Police Maj. Manfred Briegl of Vienna's criminal investigations division 
told reporters that police still had no leads in the theft, which was 
discovered Wednesday afternoon at the Palais Harrach, a Baroque-era 
mansion that now houses offices and shops.

Briegl said detectives dusted for fingerprints and collected possible 
traces of the thieves for DNA analysis in their effort to recover the 30 
Faberge eggs, 20 porcelain vases and a painting, and that results were 
expected within a week.

He said the owner of the artworks, whose name was not released, 
estimated their total value at between $805,000 and $1 million.

Gerald Hesztera, spokesman for the Federal Criminal Investigations 
Bureau said Vienna police gave Interpol a detailed list of the stolen 
items in case they surface in auctions or black markets outside Austria.

Police said the works were stolen sometime between Tuesday evening and 
Wednesday morning by thieves who broke through a rear entrance and 
apparently loaded the items into a waiting vehicle.

Werner Mayer, an official with the UNIQA insurance company, told 
Austrian television the building was not fitted with an alarm system and 
suggested the insurer was, therefor, not legally obligated to cover the 
theft.

http://www.chron.com