London pub thief swaps $4.8m rare whiskey set and Fabergé egg for drugs

The moment the bag was stolen. Photo / Metropolitan Police

Police have released security footage of a thief stealing a handbag – not realising it contained a US$2.8 million ($4.8m) whiskey set, including a Fabergé egg and watch.

Rosie Dawson, director of premium brands at Craft Irish Whiskey, was greeting a friend outside the Dog and Duck pub in Soho when Enzo Conticello, 29, snatched her bag, according to Metropolitan Police.

Footage released by police showed him first attempting to take another customer’s bag inside the venue before moving outside and taking Dawson’s Givenchy handbag, which had been left on the floor, according to the Mirror.

Conticello then traded the bag and its contents for drugs, unaware of the value of the items, the Daily Mail reported.

The Emerald Isle is a collaboration between Craft Irish Whiskey and Fabergé. Photo / Craft Irish Whiskey

Inside the bag was “The Emerald Isle” — one of only seven sets created by Craft Irish Whiskeys in collaboration with the jewellery designer, Fabergé.

The egg was handcrafted by a fourth-generation Fabergé craftsman from 18k yellow gold and set with 104 diamonds, while the watch was encased in rose gold with sapphire crystals and a 22k gold oscillating weight, according to the manufacturer.

Conticello was was arrested on November 9, 2025 and sentenced on April 9 to a jail term of two years and three months.

Prosecutor Julian Winship told the sentencing hearing that Dawson arrived at the Dog and Duck pub just before 10pm, the Daily Mail reported.

“She was outside the premises in the designated smoking area, she put her handbag on the ground in between her legs, and a few minutes later she noticed her handbag was no longer there.”

The Fabergé watch and egg. Photo / Metropolitan Police

The bag itself, which belonged to Dawson, was reportedly worth £1600 ($3669), but the whiskey, egg and watch belonged to her employer, according to the Daily Mail.

Winship accepted that Conticello “wanted to obtain some easy cash” and did not intend to steal the rare items.

The lawyer defending Conticello, Kate Porter-Windley, said he doesn’t know where the stolen items are now, the Daily Mail reported.

“He was a cocaine addict at the time, I am pleased to say he is now eight months clean, but at the time he just gave the bag away.”

Speaking about the Fabergé egg, Porter-Windley said, “I confess, I didn’t know what the item was, I had to look it up myself”.

“And it certainly wasn’t known to Mr Conticello. He had absolutely no idea the value of it, none whatsoever.”

Enzo Conticello took the handbag with the rare items. Photo / Metropolitan Police

Insurers have paid out £106,700 ($244,000) to the company for the stolen goods, although a single set sold in 2024 for US$2.8m.

Dawson remains employed by Craft Irish Whiskey.