Scotland Yard launches manhunt for jewel thief ‘Lupin’ after raids worth £26m

Scotland Yard has launched a European-wide manhunt for a jewel thief, thought to have led the highest value burglary in English criminal history.

Alfredo Lindley, 40, has been accused of leading a series of burglaries in 2019 in which he got away with £26million in jewellery, watches and cash.

Formula 1 heiress Tamara Ecclestone, ex-Chelsea and England footballer Frank Lampard and the late former owner of Leicester City Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha were all targets of the alleged high-flying robber.

According to Italian authorities, Lindley may also have robbed Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira in 2009, the Evening Standard reported.

The jewel thief is thought to use 19 aliases, including Daniel Vukovic, Ljubomir Radosavljevic and Ljubomir Romanov, and it is thought he may now be in Belgrade, Serbia.

In December 2019, over 13 days, he is thought to have led a string of three high-profile break-ins, including Mr Lampard’s £12-million property, late-billionaire Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s home and Ms Ecclestone’s £70-million, 55-room mansion near Kensington Palace where they got £25 million of the total £26-million pot.

Tamara Ecclestone, pictured, was on holiday with her husband and daughter while a gang used screwdrivers and evaded security guards to get access into her home

Former Chelsea and England footballer Frank Lampard’s home was robbed in December 2019. Italian authorities think Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira’s home may have been targeted by Linley in 2009

The heist spoils included £50,000 Patek Philippe cufflinks and a Cartier watch from Mr Lampard’s home, £1 million and Patek Philippe watches from Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and cash and jewellery from Ms Ecclestone.

Ms Ecclestone was on holiday with her husband and daughter while a gang used screwdrivers and evaded security guards to get access into her home.

Police have yet to recover the stolen goods which are thought to have been taken abroad.

Omar Sy as Lupin in the hit Netflix show of the same name. Lindley has been nicknamed Arsene Lupin by Italian police

Lindley, who was born in Peru but is of eastern European descent, has been convicted for scams and burglaries in Italy at least nine times dating to 26 years ago.

He’s been nicknamed Arsene Lupin by Italian police, after the popular Netflix crime thriller. 

Jugoslav Jovanovic, 24, Alessandro Maltese, 45, and Alessandro Donati, 44, all believed to be his accomplices earlier this year admitted conspiracy to burgle the properties at Isleworth Crown Court.

The heist spoils included £1 million and Patek Philippe watches from Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, pictured, the late former owner of Leicester City

Last week Jovanovic admitted conspiracy to commit money laundering in an 11th hour plea before his trial was set to start.

Judge Martin Edmunds, QC, expects to sentence Jovanovic, Maltese and Donati on 15 November, but this date is provisional and subject to change. 

According to The Sun, the Met Police has confirmed that Lindley was wanted for questioning in respect of a series of high-value burglaries committed in December 2019 in Kensington and Chelsea’.