BAG snatcher Enzo Conticello hit the jackpot when he targeted company director Rosie Dawson – she was carrying a £2million Faberge jewelled egg and watch.
But even though it is thought to be the world’s highest-value handbag nab, the petty thief was more interested in having a smoke — and used Rosie’s bank card to buy cigarettes at a nearby Co-op.
Conticello, 29, targeted luxury drinks firm director Rosie outside the Dog And Duck pub in Bateman Street in London’s Soho.
The egg and watch were being sold by her firm, but after attending a trade show which finished late, she volunteered to take the items home, rather than to a night vault.
The Sun can today reveal that Algerian Conticello, whose real name is thought to be Hakim Boudjenoune, struck as she put the Givenchy bag down on the pavement to hug a friend outside the pub.
As well as the egg and watch, it contained a laptop, bank cards, keys and driving licence.
A source said: “The thief probably recognised it was a Givenchy bag and was likely to have goodies inside.
“But he clearly had no idea exactly how precious those goodies were, because he remained in Soho afterwards and used Rosie’s bank card rather than leaving the area immediately.”
Conticello removed the bag’s contents and dumped it, then took a Victoria Line Tube to Walthamstow in North East London, where he used Rosie’s card again to buy alcohol at a Nisa store.
The trail then went cold until Conticello was arrested by detectives from the Met’s Central West CID in Belfast on January 26.
He was brought to London and the next day appeared at Uxbridge magistrates’ court in West London.
On Tuesday Conticello pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to theft and three counts of fraud by misrepresentation in relation to the credit card offences.
He did not enter a plea to concealing criminal property — the Faberge egg and watch — and a sentencing hearing has been set for March 6.
The court heard that the egg and watch have not been recovered and their precise valuation is currently being established for the hearing.
But The Sun can reveal police have arrested a man on suspicion of handling the precious items.
It is understood the suspect drew suspicion by emailing the Faberge company to ask about the value of the egg and watch.
Judge Martin Griffith told Conticello: “It must have been rather a surprise to you when you saw that egg.”
Rosie, in her late 20s, is said to have been “devastated”.
The source said: “She left her bag alone for a split second — but that’s all it took.”
