Lulu Lakatos, a 60 year-old woman from London, is accused of swapping diamonds valued at $7.8 million for worthless pebbles, IDEX Online reports.
Lakatos allegedly examined seven diamonds at luxury Mayfair jeweler Boodles for a group posing as wealthy Russian buyers. She then tucked the purse with the seven diamonds into her handbag. According to the story, “when staff protested she immediately withdrew what appeared to be the same purse”. The staff then placed the replica purse in the vault. The next day, as the purse was examined, it was revealed that it contained “nothing but garden pebbles”.
Among the seven diamonds stolen was a 20-carat heart-shaped diamond worth $3 million as well as a 3-carat pear-shaped fancy pink diamond valued at $1.5 million.
Lakatos, born in Romania, was extradited to the UK from France, where she lives. Two other men, who posed as the wealthy Russians, are also standing trial.
