Abu Dhabi royals sued over Mayfair theft

BRITAIN: THE ABU Dhabi royal family is being sued for more than £700,000 (€896,217), according to property industry publication Estates Gazette , by the tenant of one of its Mayfair apartments who claims that her valuables, including seven Hermès Birkin bags, would not have been stolen had the apartment been fitted with a bigger safe.

Apart from the seven bags, valued at more than £37,000, the theft included two pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage and four Louis Vuitton bags, collectively valued at £6,880, a £30,350 Cartier ring, a £15,600 Chanel yellow gold diamond bracelet watch and antique family jewellery.

Rebecca Wang, who was paying £4,500 a week rent for the luxury apartment at Hill Street, west London, is also reported to be claiming the break-in would never have happened if a broken burglar alarm in the property had been repaired or replaced by the managing agent. Estates Gazette says Ms Wang alleges that Savills, who negotiated the lease at the property, and the management agent, GVA Grimley, knew she was very wealthy and would require a large safe.

However as the fabric of the 18th century listed building could only support a small safe, she had to keep most of her valuables in a secure room.

The report also says that she alleged that because her alarm wasn't working her "general factotum" failed to prevent the break-in .

The claim against Berkeley Square Holdings, a holding company of the Abu Dhabi royal family, takes into account £500,000 of jewellery and £10,000 in cash stolen from the apartment.

Ms Wang is also claiming hotel bills of around £200,000 after she moved to the Dorchester Hotel at a cost of £863.63 per night, because she felt unsafe living in the apartment.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times