World’s Most Expensive Heists

WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE HEISTS The world of heists and robberies is intriguing; historically, some involve elaborate plots but others were executed very simply. The results were the same throughout; huge hauls of money, diamonds and jewels for the criminals for however long it lasted until ultimate arrests..though some remain unsolved! 10. HARRY WINSTON Location: Paris, France HARY WINCno When: 2008 HARRY WINSTON Heist: $108 million dollars' worth of jewellery. • 4 Robbers, 3 dressed in women's clothes • No shots fired • In 2011, jewels valued at $25 million were found hidden in a Paris rain sewer at a home of one of the nine people charged with the heist. 9. ANTWERP DIAMOND CENTRE ANTWERP WORLD DIAMOND CENTRE $100 million dollars worth of loose diamonds, gold and other jewellery Location: Antwerp, Belgium When: 2003 Heist: • The haul was so massive that the thieves could not carry all of it out of the vault. • Escaped with 123 deposit boxes. • Italian criminal, Leonardo Notarbartolo, was convicted of orchestrating the heist, serving 10 years in prison. • The haul he and his accomplices stole has never been found. 8. UNITED CALIFORNIA BANK ROBBERY Location: Laguna Niguel, California, U.S.A. ECALIFORNIA III UNITED BANK When: 1972 Heist: Over $30 million dollars. (Equal to about $100 million dollars today). • A group of seven men broke into the bank and stole everything from the safe deposit vault. Group leader, Amil Dinsio and the group members were caught by the F.B.I., along with most of the money. 7. SCHIPHOL AIRPORT Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands When: 2005 | schiphol poorwege Amsterdam Airport schipho Heist: Over $108 million dollars worth of diamonds. Schiphe • Two men dressed as KLM workers entered the cargo terminal of Schiphol Airport in a stolen KLM car • Intercepted a truck carrying the diamonds and drove away • No arrests but suspected 'inside job' 6. BRITISH BANK OF THE MIDDLE EAST Location: Beirut, Lebanon When: 1976 Heist: Over $100 million in stocks, currency, jewels, and gold. • Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Liberation Organisation in alliance with Lebanon's Christian Phalang broke into the bank by blasting a hole in a near-by building. • Using the help of a locksmith, they managed to open the vault door where they went on to remove its contents for over two days. • A few of the stocks were returned back to their owners. SH BANK OF THE MIDDLF 5. KNIGHTSBRIDGE SECURITY DEPOSIT Location: Knightsbridge, London, U.K. When: 1987 Heist: Over $174 million in cash, jewels and silver. • The robbery was led by Valerio Viccei • They broke open many of the safe deposit boxes • He had inside help for the raid in the form of the managing director of the centre. • Some of the haul was recovered. 4. BAGHDAD BANK Location: Sa'adun district, Baghdad city, Iraq When: 2007 Bank of Baghdad Heist: $282 million in American currency • It was believed that the three guards watching the loot had made off with the haul. • Nobody has been brought to justice for this crime and no money has been recovered. 3. BOSTON MUSEUM Location: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, U.S.A. . When: 1990 Heist: Art worth approximately $300 million • Two men dressed as police officers convinced two museum security guards that they were responding to an emergency call. • Over the next 81 minutes, they stole 12 pieces of art. • Case remains unresolved though in 2013, the FBI indicated they knew who the perpetrators were. 2. CITY BONDS TREASURT TOTE Location: Central London, U.K. S1000000 When: 1990 THIS TREASURY NOTEcl ONE MILLION POUNDS Heist: $292 million of Bearer Bonds (as good as cash) 50Bank • Keith Cheeseman received a six-and-a-half-year jail sentence for his part in the robbery. • Crime was conducted with just a knife. • All of the bonds were found except for 2 thanks to an informant. 1. CENTRAL BANK OF IRAQ, Location: Baghdad, Iraq When: 2003 Heist: $1 billion of US currency in the form of 100 dollar bills in boxes • Former dictator Saddam Hussein sent his son Qusay to make a withdrawal from the bank on behalf of a handwritten note. • Entire operation took about five-hours. However, he was later killed by US troops. • $350 million dollars was never recovered and is still considered lost to this day. 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