Diamond boss ‘chased thief down street’ after having £18,000 luggage stolen
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The boss of diamond giant De Beers chased a thief who stole luggage worth up to £18,000 from her cab outside London’s Eurostar terminal into the clutches of the police, a court heard. Celine Assimon had put her luggage, including a suitcase and a Luis Vuitton handbag, in the car boot after she arrived at St Pancras from Paris at 11pm on Sunday (January 19).
![[Diamond CEO chased robber down street after he stole ?18,000 worth of luggage from her taxi]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236928457-d319.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Younis Adam, 26, was arrested by police 20 minutes after the crime and pleaded guilty to theft at a hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates on Monday. He was jailed for nine months by magistrates at the same court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Edward Aydin told the court that Ms Assimon, chief executive of the jewellery business at De Beers the world’s leading diamond company, had given chase after she realised someone was behind the cab grabbing her luggage.
![[Younis Adam Younis Adam, 26, was arrested by police 20 minutes after the crime and pleaded guilty to theft at a hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates on Monday. (Picture: CPS)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Adam-Younis-Mugshot-1-87db-e1737566452747.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=256)
She reacted after hearing a ‘beep’ inside the cab signifying the boot was open. However, the suspect managed to escape briefly only to be apprehended by police after the alarm was raised by a bus driver. Among the items in the designer luggage plundered from the boot were Chanel trainersand a Louis Vuitton jacket and trousers.
![[Diamond CEO chased robber down street after he stole ?18,000 worth of luggage from her taxi]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236928458-b779.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The value of all the items was estimated at between £17,000 and £18,000, the court heard. One Louis Vuitton bag has been recovered but other luggage is still missing. The prosecutor told the court there had been a marked increase in opportunities thieves circling stations and in particular St Pancras, where Eurostar services operate.
![[Diamond CEO chased robber down street after he stole ?18,000 worth of luggage from her taxi]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236928459-66be.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
