A man stole a handbag outside a London pub. Inside was a Faberge egg and watch.

A 34-year-old man, Jacky Colville, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday, March 14, 2025, for stealing a handbag containing an exceptionally valuable Fabergé egg and a luxury watch from outside a pub in the city's affluent Mayfair district. The theft occurred as the victim, a 56-year-old woman, was dining at the Audley Public House, and Colville seized the opportunity to snatch her unattended bag from a chair. The total value of the stolen items, which included a Fabergé egg pendant and a Cartier watch, was estimated by prosecutors to be at least £2.2 million (approximately $2.8 million USD). The court heard that the incident took place on the evening of September 5, 2024. The victim had placed her handbag on a chair beside her while she was at the pub. Jacky Colville, who was described as having a history of theft offenses, was captured on CCTV approaching the table, taking the bag, and swiftly leaving the premises. The Metropolitan Police's investigation, which involved reviewing security footage, led to Colville's identification and subsequent arrest. The Fabergé egg, a piece of intricate jewelry from the renowned Russian luxury house, and the high-end watch were not recovered, and their fate remains unknown. During sentencing, Judge Rebecca Poulet KC emphasized the significant financial and sentimental loss suffered by the victim, noting that the items were of 'extraordinary value.' She stated that the crime was a 'serious, targeted theft of high-value goods' and that the sentence reflected the premeditated nature of the offense and its impact. The case highlights the risks associated with leaving valuable possessions unattended in public spaces, even in upscale areas, and serves as a reminder of the sophisticated operations of organized theft targeting luxury items in major global cities like London.