Valuable 18th-century watches stolen from Venaria Reale palace in Italy

Thieves broke into the historic Venaria Reale palace near Turin, Italy, on October 20, 2026, stealing 26 valuable 18th-century pocket watches. The items, crafted from gold and enamel, have an estimated value of approximately 150,000 euros.

The heist took place shortly after 2:00 a.m., with at least three masked individuals reportedly involved. The suspects bypassed security measures, including alarms and armed guards, to reach the Duke of Savoy's Audience Hall. The hall is located on the main floor, situated along the public tour route immediately after the Great Gallery designed by architect Filippo Juvarra.

Authorities are currently investigating the incident, as the perpetrators' actions were likely captured by the site's extensive security camera system. Despite the sophisticated nature of the palace's security infrastructure, the burglars successfully gained entry and fled the scene with the historical artifacts.