One of Portugal’s richest men is totting up his losses this week after thieves took advantage of his festive holiday to Brazil and broke in to steal up to €10 million worth of jewellery and watches.
What will be intriguing police is that the raiders made use of the fact that the alarm system of António Rodrigues’ mansion in Oliveira de Azeméis had been turned off, “so that neighbours could go in and out to feed the guard dogs”.
Who would have known this? And who would have known that one of the rooms contained €30,000 in cash?
These are two questions that could narrow down inquiries as, according to national tabloid Correio da Manhã, no one appears to have seen anything.
A neighbour was disturbed by the guard dogs’ barking, a neighbour told the paper, but after investigating with a torch and finding nothing, he went back inside his house.
The thieves meantime were kept busy with Rodrigues’ extensive collection of valuables, and found enough to carry off without even attempting to break open the onsite safe.
Rodrigues and his wife landed at Porto’s Sá Carneiro airport hours later and were described as “extremely upset” when told the news.
The 75-year-old self-made businessman is the owner of the Simoldes empire and purportedly one of the 10 richest people in the country.
