Gold jewellery stolen in 'film-style heist'

Diamond-studded gold jewellery has been stolen in a film-inspired heist at an Italian jeweller while its owners celebrated at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles.

The Damiani showroom in Milan was the location for the robbery, with thieves digging a tunnel from a disused cellar and then accessing the store while the owners were away hosting a post-Academy Awards bash, reports the Times.

Robbers entered the building during a private viewing where they overpowered staff and left with a selection of gold jewellery including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.

The crime is already being compared to the cinematic heists of The Italian Job and Entrapment with police reporting that the theft took just over 40 minutes.

Damiani is well known as a favourite of Hollywood A-listers, with the jeweller's customers including Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow.

It also provided the bracelet worn by actress Tilda Swinton at the Oscars ceremony where owners Guido, Giorgio and Silva Damiani were in attendance.

Fortunately, most of the jeweller's most valuable pieces had travelled with them and were on display at the ceremony in Los Angeles.