[MSN] Switzerland. Police hunt gang in historical watch heist

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Police hunt gang in historical watch heist
5. July 2007, Swissinfo 

Thieves have emptied a Swiss watch museum of almost its entire collection of rare historical Swiss made watches worth millions of Swiss francs.
	
The robbery was carried out around 8.30am Thursday at the Girard:Perregaux Museum in La Chaux:de:Fonds in northwest Switzerland. Local police have described the theft as "an incalculable loss for Swiss watch heritage".

Two men posing as deliverymen overpowered, bound and gagged a woman who was cleaning the museum, which belongs to luxury watchmaker Girard:Perregaux, said investigating magistrate Sylvie Favre.

At least three robbers then broke display cases and took virtually all the watches on display, Favre said.

The priceless collection of around 100 exclusive watches included unique timepieces such as the Tourbillon with three gold bridges and handmade pieces encrusted with jewels.

Selling the haul, estimated to be worth several million francs, will be difficult because each watch is registered, she added.

The robbers fled in a large, dark vehicle, possibly heading across the border to nearby France, Favre said. She said the cleaner was able to free herself and summon help.

Since 1999 Girard: Perregaux had built up a collection of more than one hundred historical and modern timepieces that represent the history of watchmaking.

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