Spain: Couple steals fine wine worth 1.6 million euros from a luxury hotel – and is caught

It was an unusual, but also perfectly executed coup: In Spain, almost a year and a half, a couple broke into the restaurant of a luxury hotel and stole wine bottles worth 1.

Spain: Couple steals fine wine worth 1.6 million euros from a luxury hotel – and is caught

It was an unusual, but also perfectly executed coup: In Spain, almost a year and a half, a couple broke into the restaurant of a luxury hotel and stole wine bottles worth 1.6 million euros. Now the burglars had to answer in court - and got a long sentence.

The couple had planned and carried out the coup at the end of 2021 in the wine cellar of the three-star restaurant "Atrio". In order to get the valuable loot, the former Mexican beauty queen first checked in as a supposed Swiss citizen and dined with her Dutch-Romanian boyfriend in the hotel's restaurant. During the night the woman ordered a salad to her room. While the hotel employee was preparing the salad, the woman's partner was supposed to steal an electronic door card. But the plan failed, the wine cellar could not be opened.

On a second attempt, the receptionist was supposed to bring dessert to the room. This is how her partner got the master key and was able to bring 45 bottles worth a total of 1.64 million euros to safety in a backpack and two large bags. A special highlight of the loot: a bottle of Chateau d'Yquem from 1806 at a price of 350,000 euros.

Despite the thorough preparation with three visits to the restaurant, the two were caught in Croatia in July 2022. After a verdict by a Spanish court, her sentence has now also been fixed: the man must be imprisoned for four and a half years, his accomplice for four years. They also have to pay 753,454 euros in compensation to the hotel.

Sources: With AFP, Stern

NEXT NEWS