Daddy Yankee's jewels stolen

MADRID • A thief who pretended to be Daddy Yankee stole €2 million (S$3.1 million) in jewels from the reggaeton star's hotel room safe in Spain, his representatives and local media said on Thursday.

The 41-year-old singer (above), best known for his catchy summer dance song Despacito, which he performs with fellow Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, "was the victim of a robbery while he was out of his hotel in Valencia" in eastern Spain, his representatives, Nevarez PR, said in a Twitter message.

The singer made no mention of the theft on social media, where he has millions of followers.

Ramon Luis Ayala, better known as Daddy Yankee, reported the theft of diamonds and gems from his hotel room safe to police on Tuesday night, online local newspaper Las Provincias reported.

A spokesman for local police in Valencia confirmed they are investigating a theft of jewels and cash from a hotel in the Mediterranean city on Tuesday, but declined to identify the name of the victim.

According to Las Provincias, a man who presented himself as Daddy Yankee, reggaeton's best-known name, asked a hotel employee to open the safe in the singer's room. He then took €2 million in jewels from the room.

The man also took jewels and cash from other hotel rooms where members of Daddy Yankee's crew were staying, according to the paper.

Police questioned Daddy Yankee, his crew and hotel employees and inspected the room, but did not find fingerprints or other clues, it added.

Daddy Yankee gave a concert in Valencia on Sunday as part of a European tour.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 11, 2018, with the headline Daddy Yankee's jewels stolen. Subscribe