jenson Button gassed during shocking robbery in France
 

"McLaren Formula 1 star Jenson Button and his wife were the victims of a shocking burglary in the south of France during which it is believed they were gassed with anesthetic.

During the F1 summer break, the 2009 World Champion was holidaying in a mansion in Saint Tropez when the burglary occurred.

Possessions totaling over $450,000 were stolen, including his wife Jessica Michibata’s engagement ring.

Police believe thieves pumped anesthetic gas into the air conditioning vents of the mansion Button was staying in with a group of friends.

They reportedly awoke feeling groggy, before realizing that they’d been victims of a brazen robbery."

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Jenson Button gassed during shocking robbery in France

someone was staking them out for a while

Damn lucky they didn't get killed. Scary stuff! I'd think that would hurt the tourist biz in that part of the world

You have to be an idiot to carry half a million worth of valuables on you, including a 5 carat diamond ring. :rolleyes:

That said, the guys in France, Italy and Spain are good. I'd be scared traveling there as an obviously loaded guy.

G

It sounds fanciful but it may actually be true. If they were gassed whoever did it must have been the best of the best.

Real life Oceans 11? :confused:

A local couple I know were burgled and they claimed they were drugged or gassed at the time.
The cops basically told them they were being silly because they'd never heard of anyone being done like that.
This was years ago and I don't know what came of it but to be completely honest at the time I thought they must have been full of it.

It is a common practice to gas people to loot their stuff. I recall it from the 80s when I lived in Europe and if you read up on it, it still is done today.

Of course, I don't know anyone first hand it happened to. Maybe it just means you were drunk off your azz and the crooks saw you head home and took the opportunity! Admitting that will be less fancy than saying "i have been anesthetized". :D

G

This surprises me. It sounds very dangerous. Surely the average crook doesn't want to draw that kind of attention?

500k worth of loot is no average crook.

It says they were staying in a mansion in St. Tropez, so he wasn't carrying the stuff with him, it was at the house he was staying. My guess is a mansion he was renting had tons of valuable stuff in it to take.

What else should his wife had done with her engagement ring besides wear it???:rolleyes:

You don't just buy a cylinder of anesthetic gas at Walmart. You would think they could trace if back to where it was bought, or I guess they could have stolen from somewhere.

Russians use it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis

I heard that Bill Cosby used this trick to knock out an entire girl's high school back in the '70's. ;)

Sorry guys, but even if I was filthy rich, my wife would not wear a $100k ring. You are just asking for trouble. New money ...

G

I'm betting JB travels with 2 or three nice watches, his wife apparently likes the flashy jewelry, like a five karat ring; it's certainly not inconceivable to me that someone who earns the kind of money that top flight F1 drivers bring in won't travel with a lot of expensive stuff.

Most of us bring stuff we'd rather not have stolen with us when we travel, cameras, ipads, watches, jewelry, cash. Percentage wise, it probably totals up to about the same value as someone who is filthy stinking rich.

I'm always outside at night with my flamethrower headlight and spinning projectile ejector. I like to smoke cigars and wait for coyotes in the pitch dark. I'd have probably had a shoot out with the thieves.

If I recall correctly, Alan Prost's hotel room in Brazil got burglarized many years ago and $50K in cash was taken. These F1 guys travel expenses are very different than mine!

You have to look at absolute value you carry around. The average traveler is not worth a sophisticated attack that risks your life. You may get pick pocketed or mugged. Give your wallet and move on. This is at a whole different level. I'd keep the bling down to a minimum and keep a low profile. But of course, I am not a woman who married a race car driver. Thank god!

G