Jewels stolen from Venice Doge's Palace during visiting hours

ROME, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A pair of earrings and a brooch that could be worth several million euros were stolen during visiting hours at the Doge's Palace in the northern city of Venice early on Wednesday, local media reported.

While the stolen items were declared at customs at 30,000 euros, their real value could amount to "several million euros", Italian news agency ANSA quoted police sources as saying.

They were on show as part of an exhibit of Indian jewelry from the 1500s to the 1900s, which opened last September and was due to close Wednesday.

It features 270 precious items set with gems such as diamonds, pearls, sapphires and rubies, from the collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani of the royal family of Qatar, according to the museum website.

Security camera footage shows two or more thieves mingled with museum visitors, popped the jewels into their pockets and swiftly exited the museum, where they disappeared into the crowds of tourists on St. Mark's Square, ANSA said.

The jewels are very well known, and will be difficult to sell on the black market. They will likely be taken apart before being sold, ANSA cited investigators as saying.

Built beginning in the mid-14th century, the Doge's Palace is one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice and became a museum in 1923. Enditem