Officials in Dubai thwarted a group of thieves who stole a rare pink diamond and were planning to smuggle it out of the United Arab Emirates, police said Aug. 18.

Three suspects allegedly stole the $25 million diamond from a jeweler by telling him they were interested in buying it, according to a release from the Government of Dubai Media Office.

Police arrested the suspects within eight hours of the heist, the office said.

The alleged thieves were planning to smuggle the diamond out of the country in "a small refrigerator bound for an Asian destination," the release said.

Diamond thieves were planning heist for over a year, police say

The suspects, whose identities have not been released, had been planning to steal the diamond for over a year, police said in the release.

"To establish credibility, the suspects posed as wealthy individuals by renting luxury cars and arranging meetings at upscale hotels, eventually persuading the merchant to move the diamond out of his secure shop, enabling them to steal it," the release said.

They, at one point, hired a diamond expert to authenticate the gem, which further convinced the seller that they were serious about the purchase, the release said.

The supposed buyers stole the diamond when they "lured the merchant to a villa," officials said.

Pink diamond has more than 20 carats and is worth $25 million

The diamond that thieves were targeting is worth $25 million and weights more than 21 carats. Because of its unique purity rating as well as its clarity and symmetry, there is only a 0.01% chance of finding another like it, officials said.

"Its extraordinary value and rarity made it a prime target, prompting the gang’s elaborate efforts over an extended period," the release said.

Police said the jeweler had imported the diamond from Europe to sell in Dubai, which is known for its luxury shopping.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thieves steal rare $25 million pink diamond, try to smuggle it out of Dubai

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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