Dramatic Heist at Paris Jeweler

You can just see the screenwriters pushing their pens: Last week, thieves stole some $108 million worth of diamonds from the ultrachic Harry Winston boutique near the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The robbers, reportedly armed and at least two dressed in wigs and women's clothing, took most of the jewels on display, and forced employees to remove diamonds from safes. Some ten customers were on the premises when the heist occured, according to news reports. No one was hurt, and no shots were fired.

It's being called the biggest heist in French history. And since the theives orchestrated the robbery in the late afternoon, in only around 15 minutes and with every detail seemingly planned to a tee, some suspect it may have been the work of people who know the boutique and its employees well.

The same Harry Winston location was the victim of a heist last year, and in the past two years, robberies at luxury jewelers in Paris have skyrocketed. Something many may find even further removed from reality than usual, given the brutality of the current financial crisis.