Here is top 7 jewellery and diamond robberies in terms of money as of my knowledge. It is highly possible that I could have missed any big. If you know any such please mention in comments. But I promise these are not less thriller.
2. Jewellery is my favourite subject.
I thought to write something different today and
found this subject.
I have to admit, when I go through these details
it became more and more interesting.
Here is top 7 jewellery and diamond robberies in
terms of money as of my knowledge.
It is highly possible that I could have missed any
big.
If you know any such please mention in
comments.
But I promise these are not less thriller.
3. 28th July 2013
The Carlton Cannes
Hotel (approx. $136
million)
The brazen theft occurred about 11:30 am Sunday at The Carlton Intercontinental hotel,
French Riviera. The Carlton hotel dominates the exclusive Promenade de la Croisetta that
stretches a mile and a half along the French Riviera. There was an exhibition of jewellery by
the prestigious Leviev diamond house which is owned by London based Russian Israeli
billionaire Lev Leviev. The exhibition scheduled to run until end of August. On 28th July,
Sunday morning, two suspect, wearing a scarf and a hat, entered through a glass door off of
Cannas’ main street pulled a semi-automatic pistol, grabbed the bag of jewellery (containing
72 jewels, 34 of which described as exceptional) and jumped through another glass door that
led to the Rue Einsy. The investigation is going on for the biggest jewellery heist of the world
with esteemed value of the theft is $136 million and no suspect has been charged yet.
On a lighter note, it is the same hotel that Alfred Hitchcock shot much of the classic 1955
romance-thriller To catch a Thief.
4. Amsterdam Million-
Dollar Airport Heist
(Esteemed value $118
million)
25th February 2005
Two men dressed as KLM workers entered the cargo terminal of the
airport in a stolen KLM car.
The Men intercepted the truck carrying diamonds which were on
route to a Tulip air plane bound for Antwerp.
They were armed with pistols and force drivers to leave the truck and
laid down before casually drive away with the valuable.
It was well planned robbery as culprits were able to gain access to a
secured freight area.
The truck later found at a short distance from the airport. Nothing has
been recovered yet.
5. Antwerp Diamond centre,
Belgium (esteemed value
$100 million)
15-16th February 2013
Antwerp Diamond heist, dubbed “heist of the century”.
It was largest when it happened.
Antwerp Diamond centre is located at the gem district of Belgium.
This robbery is no less than what we see in the movies.
The diamonds were located two floors below the diamond centre protected by
multiple security mechanisms like a lock with 100 million possible combinations,
infrared heat detectors, a seismic sensor, Doppler radar and a magnetic field.
According to speculations, the leader of the robbers was Leonardo Notarbartolo who
has rented space in diamond centre.
He was arrested after sufficient evidence and sentenced for 10 years in prison, but
has since been released on parole. The diamonds remained uncovered till date.
6. Harry Winston store in Paris,
France (esteemed value $100
million)
9th December 2008
Harry Winston is top jewellery store in Paris.
On the day, four men, some wearing wigs and female clothing, produced
handguns from their pockets.
They cornered all the employees and customers, some of them reported of to
have been assaulted.
They stole almost every jewellery piece on display and also stole two backdoor
storage cases as well.
This robbery also became mystery as nothing has been recovered yet.
7. Graff diamond robbery
(esteemed value $65
million)
6th August 2009
Graff Diamonds is located at New Bond Street, London.
Two men entered as customers and executed one of biggest jewellery robbery of UK.
They stole 43 pieces of jewellery including rings, bracelets, necklaces and wrist-watches.
Only one necklace among them has value of £3.5 million as reported.
The robbers have used professional make-up artist to alter their look.
They have used wigs, their skin tones and their features using latex prosthetics.
The interesting thing is, total of 10 male suspects has been arrested, remanded and
charged for conspiracy, robbery, attempted murder etc. but none of the stolen
jewellery recovered.
It also became mystery as others.
8. The Carlton Cannes Hotel
(esteemed value $60
million)
11th August 1994
Yes this is the same place as the first one I have listed.
Three men entered the jewellery store in the hotel with brandishing
automatic weapons and executed the robbery of jewellery and precious
stones valued around $60 million.
The thieves have not been arrested yet and nothing has been recovered yet.
9. Brussels Airport
diamond heist
(esteemed value $50
million)
18th February 2013
Brussels is the capital of Belgium, one of largest market of diamonds.
The gems were being transferred from Brink’s armored van, which had driven from
Antwerp on Fokker 100 twin engine jet Swiss flight LX789, which was bound for
Zurich.
The robbers were hid in a construction site outside the airport.
They were armed with Kalashnikov type assault rifles, dressed up in police.
They have a Mercedes van and an Audi, both with flashing blue police lights.
They drove straight to airplane, stopped it, brandished their guns to stop pilots and
transport security and loaded 130 bags into their car and drove off.
The car later found burned. The whole drama took only 20 minutes.
Several arrests were made later but nothing has recovered yet.