Pub thief jailed over £2.2m Fabergé theft
Pub Thief Jailed for £2.2m Fabergé Theft
A 29-year-old man has received a two-year-and-three-month prison sentence for stealing a handbag containing a rare Fabergé egg and a watch set valued at up to £2.2 million from a London pub. The theft occurred on 7 November 2024, when Enzo Conticello, also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, took Rosie Dawson’s handbag while she stood outside the Dog and Duck in Soho.
Dawson had placed the bag between her legs on the ground, unaware that it contained items she had brought for display at a work event earlier that evening. The stolen goods included a jewelled egg, a watch, a whisky bottle, cigars, and a humidor, all crafted by the esteemed Russian jeweler Fabergé, which was founded in 1842. The items have not been recovered since the incident.
Link to Nearby Shop Sparks Investigation
Conticello was linked to the theft after attempting to use Dawson’s bank cards in a nearby shop shortly after the crime. His barrister, Katie Porter-Windley, explained that he had previously worked as a chef but lost his job during the pandemic, leading to a cocaine addiction. She emphasized that Conticello seized the opportunity without realizing the items’ immense value.
“On the night in question, it was a moment of opportunity which he took, and he is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour,” said Porter-Windley.
During the sentencing at Southwark Crown Court, Recorder Kate Livesey noted that the “opportunistic” act caused significant stress and inconvenience to Dawson and her company. “Ms Dawson described the particular shock and panic upon realising a bag containing items of such particular value owned by the company had been stolen,” Livesey added.
Although insurers compensated Dawson’s employers at the Craft Irish Whiskey Company with £106,700, the prosecutor, Julian Winship, highlighted that only seven Fabergé sets in total exist worldwide. The stolen items were part of one of these exclusive collections.
Arrest in Belfast Connects to 2024 Crime
Conticello was arrested for separate thefts in Belfast in November 2025, more than a year after the London incident. This arrest eventually tied him to the 2024 crime, revealing his pattern of opportunistic behavior. Police continue to search for the missing Fabergé egg and watch.
“Conticello thought nothing of helping himself to someone else’s possessions, and he now faces a prison sentence as a result of his greed,” said Det Con Arben Morina, leading the investigation.
Conticello pleaded guilty to three fraud charges and one theft count, admitting he sought “easy money” by stealing the bag, which also held a laptop and credit cards.
