Pub Thief Jailed Over £2.2m Fabergé Theft
Enzo Conticello, a 29-year-old opportunist, has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after stealing a handbag from a London pub that held a £2.2m worth of emerald-encrusted Fabergé items and a watch set. The theft occurred on 7 November 2024, when Conticello, also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, took Rosie Dawson’s bag while she stood outside the Dog and Duck pub in Soho.
Dawson had placed the handbag between her legs on the ground as she prepared to attend a work event that evening. Inside were a Fabergé egg, a watch, and other luxury items, which were not recovered after the crime. Conticello’s guilt was established at Southwark Crown Court, where he admitted to three counts of fraud by false representation and one theft charge. The court learned that he intended to use the stolen bag to purchase drugs, handing it over to someone else shortly after the incident.
Fabergé’s Rare Artistry
Fabergé, a prestigious Russian jeweler founded in 1842, is renowned for its gemstone-encrusted eggs and exquisite timepieces. These items are part of a limited collection, with only seven such sets in existence. Despite the loss, insurers compensated Dawson’s employers at the Craft Irish Whiskey Company with £106,700.
“On the night in question, it was a moment of opportunity which he took, and he is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour,” said Conticello’s barrister, Katie Porter-Windley. She added that the thief, who once worked as a chef, lost his job during the pandemic and fell into cocaine addiction, unaware of the items’ true value.
Conticello was apprehended in Belfast for separate thefts in November 2025, more than a year after the London incident. Investigators connected him to the 2024 crime when he attempted to use Dawson’s bank cards at a nearby shop shortly after the theft. During sentencing, Recorder Kate Livesey emphasized the “inconvenience and stress” caused to Dawson and her company, noting the “extraordinary” nature of the stolen Fabergé egg.
“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, and the incredible stress this incident has caused her,” said Livesey. She added that Conticello’s actions were driven by “greed,” as he thought nothing of taking someone else’s possessions.
Policemen continue to search for the stolen Fabergé egg and watch. Det Con Arben Morina, leading the investigation, remarked: “Conticello thought nothing of helping himself to someone else’s possessions, and he now faces a prison sentence as a result of his greed.” Listeners can tune into BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram for more updates. Story ideas should be sent to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk.
