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A rash of jewelry thefts at “the world’s richest apartment building” — whose victims include a noted philanthropist and a financier involved in the Bernie Madoff scandal — is being investigated as an inside job, sources told The Post yesterday.
“It has to be someone from the inside, a building worker or a housekeeper. It’s a very secure building. No one is going to just walk in and gain access to these apartments,” a law-enforcement source said.
The burglaries, which netted more than $250,000 in bling, took place between May 30 and July 4 while their victims were out of town, sources said.
Cops questioned a worker, who had access to a key cabinet before he was fired from 740 Park Ave., but they didn’t have enough evidence to arrest him, another source said.
“They didn’t recover any of the stolen items,” the source said.
Victims include socialite June Dyson, 95, the widow of legendary financier and philanthropist Charles H. Dyson. She lost an $82,000 diamond bracelet and a rhinestone pin between May 31 and June 16.
“Shocking,” Dyson, a third-floor resident, told The Post before declining further comment.
Other victims include hedge funder David Ganek, 49, and his novelist wife, Danielle Ganek, 49, who lost diamond earrings, two Patek Philippe watches and other jewelry worth nearly $100,000 from their sixth-floor pad.
Also robbed was Lauren Merkin, 60, the wife of Ezra Merkin, who was charged with civil fraud for allegedly steering $2.4 billion in client money to Ponzi schemer Madoff. She lost a $47,000 diamond necklace, $5,000 diamond earrings, a gold Movado watch and two wedding bands from her sixth-and-seventh-floor home.
Fourteenth-floor resident Caryl Englander, 59, a philanthropist and art collector, and her hubby, Israel, lost a $7,500 Vacheron Constantin gold watch.
Michael Gross, author of the book “740 Park: The Story of the World’s Richest Apartment Building,” said security at the exclusive address is impenetrable.
“Ronald Lauder even has his mail screened at an outside location, so my first thought was it has to be an inside job pulled off by someone with access to the key cabinet,” Gross said.
The art deco building is also home to designer Vera Wang, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman and business magnate David Koch.
A building rep said it was cooperating with the NYPD.
“We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation and that we are cooperating with the authorities,” said Amy Goltzer, a spokeswoman for Brown Harris Stevens, the building’s manager.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona and Jennifer Bain
Victims of the brazen jewel heists at 740 Park Ave.
Lauren Merkin, 60, Apt. 6/7B, the wife of Ezra Merkin, who was charged with civil fraud for allegedly steering $2.4 billion in client money to Bernie Madoff. She was robbed between June 16 and July 4. A diamond necklace worth $47,000, diamond earrings worth $5,000, a gold Movado watch, two weddings bands and cuff links were taken from a closet.
Caryl Englander, 59, Apt. 14A, robbed between June 10 and June 16. Stolen from bedroom dresser was a Vacheron Constantine gold watch worth $7,500. She is a director of the Mount Sinai Children’s Center Foundation and, along with husband Israel, is a noted art collector and philanthropist.
June Dyson, 95, Apt. 2/3C (which faces 71st Street), was robbed between May 31 and June 19. A diamond bracelet worth $82,000 and a rhinestone pin were stolen from a closet. She is the widow of legendary financier and philanthropist Charles H. Dyson, who worked for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was decorated by both the US and Britain for his service during World War II, Dyson was also the fifth entry on President Nixon’s infamous “enemies list” of political opponents.
David Ganek, 49, Apt. 6/7A, robbed between May 30 and June 6. Stolen from a walk-in closet were diamond earrings worth $22,500, diamond jewelry worth $12,000, his-and-hers Patek Philippe watches worth $59,800, and a $7,500 Rolex watch. Ganek co-founded now-defunct Level Global hedge fund, which agreed to pay the feds more than $21.5 million for its role in an insider-trading scheme. He was never charged.