3 More Charged in Robbery of British Safe Deposit Center

Police on Friday charged three more people in the $47-million robbery of a London safe deposit center, the richest theft in British history. Four others were charged earlier.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector John Bunn said police investigating the July 12 robbery recovered several million dollars worth of jewelry and silverware in a raid on a house in north London.

The police estimate of cash, jewels and other valuables taken from the Knightsbridge Safe Deposit Center makes the robbery the richest ever in Britain.

Bunn spoke with reporters outside Horseferry Magistrates Court, where two people were charged Friday in the robbery.

Stephen Mann, 38, of London, was arraigned on a robbery charge and ordered jailed pending a further hearing Monday. Helle Skoubon, 29, an assistant manager of a women’s clothing store, was charged with dishonestly handling $15,800 worth of cash and jewelry stolen in the raid. She was released on bail.

Another woman, Rosemary Poole, 46, of Addington, near London, was charged with dishonestly handling $47,000 taken in the robbery. She also was released on bail.

Four others were charged earlier Thursday. Those accused of robbery were Valerio Viccei, 32, an unemployed Italian; Israeli antiques dealer Israel Pinkas, 46; and David Poole, 47, a retired Londoner. Israeli-born investor Eliahu Ephrati, 43, was charged with handling jewelry taken in the raid.