According to media reports, a tenant in Cairns uncovered the “haul” of diamonds late February, with Queensland Police senior constable Russel Parker stating “somebody left this little stash secreted inside the unit in the early 2000s.”
“It [the diamonds] was only found because the property was undergoing such a thorough clean,” Parker said. "We're not going to describe the stones or anything like that but anyone who's left diamonds behind in a residence, I'd suggest, would remember.”
He added there were “fewer than six” stones valued at approximately $10,000, and that they were accompanied with hand-written notes and certificates of authenticity.
"These are quality diamonds and certainly they represent quite a deal of money. We've made enquiries with jewellers and so on to see if there's any way of tracing the owners and there doesn't appear to be,” he added.
QLD Police have reportedly ruled out the possibility that the diamonds were stolen, stating no jewellers in the area or burglary victims have reported similar stones as missing.
The police added they have extended the usual eight week time frame for holding valuables that are handed in. “If we haven’t got a response within a reasonable time, the tenant will get them back in not too long at all,” Parker confirmed.
As previously reported by Jeweller, there have been other instances of people finding valuable diamonds and/or gold in public spaces.
In 2013, 24 gold bars valued at $US1 million (AU$1.2 m) were found stashed in an aeroplane toilet, while gold and silver jewellery believed to be from an ancient female warrior was discovered by construction workers in Russia in 2015.
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