The recent incident involving a former Mexican beauty queen and her accomplice serves as a reminder that not even the finest of wines are safe from the possibility of theft.
In October 2021, Tatiana and Estanislao checked into Atrio’s Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel in western Spain. After enjoying a 14-course dinner, the pair took a guided tour of the hotel’s wine cellar.
In the early hours of the morning, Tatiana ordered a salad to her room, distracting the sole night staff member and allowing Estanislao to steal an electronic key. He then managed to retrieve a master key and sneak into the cellar, where he stuffed 45 bottles – including a unique 19th-century vintage worth 350,000 euros – into a backpack and two bags with towels to prevent the glass from clinking.
The couple then fled Spain, but were eventually detained by border guards while crossing from Montenegro into Croatia. On Monday, a court in the city of Careres sentenced Tatiana to four years in prison and her Romanian-Dutch accomplice to four-and-a-half years after it found them guilty of aggravated robbery. They were also ordered to pay damages to insurers worth over 750,000 euros ($799,000).
This case serves as a cautionary tale that even the most secure locations such as fine dining restaurants and wine cellars are vulnerable to theft. It is important for businesses to ensure that all proper security measures are in place to protect their valuable assets.
