Socialite sues landlord for break-in at Mayfair home

The daughter of a Taiwanese industrialist has revealed she was so traumatised when thieves raided her exclusive apartment that she was forced to move out and live in a £863-a-night room at one of London's most luxurious hotels.

Rebecca Wang, a regular on the capital's party circuit, has notched up a bill of £200,000 since moving to The Dorchester hotel, which overlooks Hyde Park.

She is now suing her landlord, Berkeley Square Holdings, for £700,000, alleging that its failure to properly secure the property led to the theft of antiques, jewellery and cash worth more than £500,000. The legal action could drag the secretive royal family of Abu Dhabi through a court battle, as they are the ultimate owners of the 18th century property in Hill Street, Mayfair, which Ms Wang rented for £4,500 a week.

Ms Wang, who is a regular at events run by the Prince's Trust and at Royal Ascot, says the robbery would never have taken place if the property's managing agent, GVA Grimley, had repaired or replaced the luxury flat's burglar alarm, which failed to go off during the raid in January.

Her compensation claim includes the bill from her stay at The Dorchester, as well as other expenses she incurred as a result of having to move out, which could come to more than £100,000.

Landlords around the country could be affected by the legal action if Ms Wang is successful. In court documents filed by Ms Wang's solicitors, she claims that the failure of the burglar alarm meant that her "general factotum", who was in the property's basement at the time of the robbery, was unable to intervene to stop the break-in.

The documents also allege that GVA Grimley and Savills, the estate agent that negotiated her lease of the property, should have known that she would need a large safe as they were aware she was "an extr-emely wealthy woman". But the age of the listed building meant that it could only support a small safe. Miss Wang had to leave most of her valuable possessions in a secure room as a result.

GVA Grimley would not comment about the legal action yesterday.

Among the items stolen included seven Birkin handbags made by the French label Hermes valued at more than £37,000, a Cartier diamond ring worth £30,350, and a £15,600 Chanel gold and diamond bracelet watch. The thieves also made off with two pieces of luggage and four bags by Louis Vuitton, collectively worth nearly £7,000. Antique family jewellery was taken, as well as about £10,000 in cash.

A friend of Ms Wang said yesterday that although she had grown up with servants and was used to being waited on, Ms Wang was a "very modest, sweet and kind girl".