Precious stones stolen

Press, 24 March 1984, Page 6

Precious stones stolen

NZPA-AAP Darwin C.LB. detectives are investigating one of Darwin’s biggest jewel robberies The police said that precious stones and jewellery worth $213,000 were stolen from a room at the Hotel Darwin, 100 yards from Darwin police headquarters. The jewels are owned by a pensioner and gem dealer, Stefan Beknusiak, aged 66, from the Adelaide suburb of Glenunga. Mr Beknusiak said that the jewels were uninsured. He has told the police he

left the gems in his locked room at the hotel when he went to the nearby Mindil Beach Casino. He discovered a bag containing the jewels was missing from a wardrobe in the room on his return. Mr Beknusiak told the police he found a window open which was closed when he left the room. He had arrived in the Territory on Tuesday on a selling trip and would now stay in Dafwin during the police inquiry.

He spent most of visiting various premises with detectives to point out persons he had met since his arrival. A C.LB. spokesman said there was no firm lead in the case. Sketches of the missing jewellery have been prepared and will be circulated to all gem dealers. Included in the stones and jewellery were a quantity of high-quality loose opals, opal and diamond rings, and gold pendants and chains.