Eleven Hermès bags stolen from Qatari Princess on TGV Paris-bound train during Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics have not only drawn the world's gaze for its athletic splendor but also for a high-profile theft that stripped a Qatari princess of her luxurious Hermes Birkin bags. 

The theft, reported by French media, occurred aboard a TGV train from Nice to Paris on Saturday, July 28,as the royal family member was traveling to attend the Olympic Games. 

The Emir of Qatar's sister-in-law, or possibly his sister, Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, as some reports suggest, found herself without her collection of highly coveted bags, reportedly filled with diamonds and expensive watches.

The royal was accompanied only by her maid, with no security personnel in sight, raising questions about the precautions taken during her travel. 

The absence of adequate supervision over such valuable items has been widely critiqued, especially given the items' immense value and the status of their owner. 

Upon discovering the loss, the train's staff was promptly alerted, leading to a temporary halt of approximately 20 minutes at Toulon station as they searched for the stolen items, to no avail. The likely getaway point for the thief or thieves is suspected to be Toulon, prompting a detailed investigation by the Toulon Criminal Court.

The ongoing investigation by French authorities remains tightly under wraps, with no details or estimates of the loss disclosed. 

SNCF, the French national railway company, has reiterated their policy: "The SNCF is not responsible in the event of loss or theft. It is the passenger's sole responsibility to monitor their baggage."