The Carlton Hotel Heist, France, 2013
In a scene almost plucked from Hollywood, a lone thief with a scarf obscuring his face stormed into the Carlton Hotel in Cannes and made off with jewelry worth an estimated $136 million. Braving no more than a softly spoken threat, he emptied a briefcase of gems and vanished, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and one of the largest unsolved heists in France’s history. The stolen jewels? Never to be seen again.
Great Train Robbery, UK, 1963
A high-speed heist on the tracks that left the nation stunned: the Great Train Robbery was orchestrated by a gang of around 15, who intercepted and robbed a Royal Mail train. Yes, the authorities rounded up the majority of the culprits, but the majority of the stolen £2.6 million (equivalent to around $61 million today) was never recovered. What are its whereabouts? It still remains one of Britain’s biggest mysteries.
Banco Central Burglary, Brazil, 2005
Clever thieves in Brazil dug a tunnel from a rented house directly into the vault of the Banco Central. They managed to get away with 160 million Brazilian Reais (around $70 million), leaving behind a hole in the ground and in the bank’s balance. There have been several arrests and recoveries of smaller amounts of cash, but the bulk of the wealth has never been found.
D.B. Cooper Hijacking, USA, 1971
This sky-high mystery has baffled the world to this day. The D.B. Cooper hijacking saw a suited up man buy a one-way ticket on a flight to Seattle, hijack the plane, secure $200,000 in ransom, and then jump out of the plane by parachute. The FBI’s investigations stretched decades, and a few of the notes were found, but the man and the majority of the money remain undiscovered. The question remains: who is this man, and where did he parachute off to?
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist, USA, 1990
Over half a billion dollars worth of art vanished into thin air when two men, dressed as police officers, conned their way into Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Pieces from iconic artists including Rembrandt, and Manet were stolen, leaving gaping holes in the art world that are yet to be filled. Despite a $10 million reward, the heist remains unsolved, and the masterpieces unseen.
Antwerp Diamond Heist, Belgium, 2003
In what has since been coined the heist of the century, the Antwerp Diamond Heist saw a group somehow infiltrate the Antwerp Diamond Center and swipe a massive quantity of precious gems and gold. The exact losses are unknown, but estimations put the total around hundreds of millions of dollars. Now, the mastermind has been caught, but has kept his mouth closed as to the whereabouts of the gems. The stolen diamonds remain scattered to this day, with only a fraction ever found.
Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Burglary, UK, 2015
This heist involved elderly thieves breaking into London’s Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company over an Easter weekend. Potentially relying on their age as a means to not arouse suspicion, they bypassed the security, utilized tools to drill into the vault wall, and made off with cash, jewels, and other valuables. While arrests were made, a significant chunk of the stolen goods has never been recovered.
Harry Winston Heist, France, 2008
In 2008 four men, some disguised as women, stormed into Paris’s Harry Winston store. With an inside knowledge that suggested a possible traitor within the company, they managed to clear the store of diamonds and jewels worth up to €85 million ($89 million). The authorities cracked down on a ring of suspects years later, but the gems? Well, they’re still unaccounted for.
The Banco de Portugal Robbery, Portugal, 1967
Like many others on this list, this heist was meticulously plotted. In 1967, thieves managed to bypass the Banco de Portugal’s security, and steal 150 million Portuguese escudos (equivalent to $14 million today). With duplicate keys and shrewd planning, the bandits left the bank with a fortune while leaving behind a mystery. Although some suspects were arrested, the money evaporated.
The Reichsbank Robbery, Germany, 1945
This major theft from the Reichsbank happened towards the end of World War II. It saw masses of gold bars, silver, and precious stones worth millions disappear into the ether of war-torn Berlin. Who took the treasures, and where they ended up, is still unknown, with the loot seemingly vanishing into the abyss of post-war chaos.
The Agricultural Bank of China Heist, China, 2007
In 2007, Ren Xiaofeng and Ma Xiangjing, employees of the bank, exploited their positions to steal an incredible 51 million yuan (approximately $6.7 million). They used the stolen funds to purchase lottery tickets. In this absurd plan, they aimed to win big and repay the stolen money before anyone noticed. Alas, the duo won, but not enough. They were caught and the majority of the stolen money was never recovered.
The Banco Ambrosiano Scandal, Italy, 1982
This scandal sounds like something straight out of a movie. It’s 1982, and Banco Ambrosiano collapsed under the weight of $1.3 billion in debts, while its chairman – Roberto Calvi, known as God’s Banker due to his ties with the Vatican – was found dead under London’s Blackfriars Bridge. Where did the vanished money go? What happened to Calvi? This scandal and murder mystery is still unsolved to this day.
Banco Itau Heist, Brazil, 2005
A daring and immaculate execution marks the Banco Itau heist. A group of criminals, invaded the bank, swiftly securing a whopping 160 million Brazilian Reais (roughly $70 million). As the criminals evaporated into the corners of the city, the authorities were left grappling with minimal leads. Despite stringent investigations, the robbers and the vast majority of the stolen funds have never been located.
The Dunbar Armored Robbery, US, 1997
In what could be scripted as an insider’s perfect crime, the Dunbar Armored Facility in Los Angeles was systematically raided, resulting in the disappearance of a massive $18.9 million. It’s now known that it was orchestrated by an insider, it was planned meticulously, with each security camera avoided. Although the mastermind was arrested, the majority of what was raided never saw the light of day again.
The Northern Bank Robbery, UK, 2004
This heist rattled the banking world – the Northern Bank Robbery involved a terrifying plan involving the kidnapping of bank officials’ families. A massive £26.5 million ($32 million) was plundered with chilling precision. Despite extensive investigations and political tensions stirred by the event, the stolen millions and the actual perpetrators have managed to remain concealed.
The Knightsbridge Security Deposit Robbery, UK, 1987
Valentino, the pseudonym of the Italian mastermind behind this heist, was already wanted for more than 50 armed robberies in Italy. He and his team exploited the institution’s vulnerabilities, ultimately getting away with an estimated £79 million ($97 million). During the robbery, to stop others entering the thieves posted an ‘out to lunch’ sign on the door – a pretty risky move, but to this day the majority of their loot still remains hidden.
The Securitas Depot Robbery, UK , 2006
Deceit, kidnap, and unparalleled audacity characterized the Securitas Depot Robbery, where thieves, masquerading as police officers, managed to coax £53 million from the depot. The thieves utilized an intricate web of deception and intimidation, majorly affecting the lives of those involved. Despite several arrests, a large proportion of the stolen wealth has yet to be unearthed.
The Rondout Train Robbery, USA (1924)
You might’ve heard of train heists only in wild west movies, but this one’s for real. In 1924, the infamous Newton Gang struck a mail train in Rondout, Illinois, making away with a massive $3 million in cash, and jewelry. Despite some of the gang being captured, the stolen goods have never been fully recovered – talk about a speedy getaway.
The Banco Rio Heist, Argentina, 2006
A mixture of ingenuity and cheek, the Banco Rio Heist saw robbers, armed with toys, escape via boat after robbing g a staggering $8 million and various valuables from safety deposit boxes. Not only was the heist a financial loss for the victims, but the robbers, playing with the authorities via communications, remain irritating mysteries to those investigating.
The Stephane Breitwieser Art Thefts, Various, 1995-2001
Stealing with a passion, Stephane Breitwieser, a French waiter and fervent art lover, executed a series of art thefts across Europe, amassing over 200 pieces worth approximately $1.4 billion. Stealthy and dedicated, he avoided detection for years, stealing because of love for the artwork, not actually monetary gain. When finally caught, his mother attempted to destroy some pieces to protect him, leaving the art world to mourn the irreplaceable lost works.
The Pink Panthers Heists, Various, 1993 – ongoing
An international band of thieves, known as the Pink Panthers, has perplexed authorities worldwide with a spree of daring and meticulously planned heists, stealing over $500 million in goods from luxury shops across the globe. From Tokyo to Dubai, their slick operations, sometimes completed in mere minutes, have left law enforcement and spectators alike bewildered, while their ill-gotten gains largely remain unrecovered and the members at large.
The Västberga Helicopter Robbery, Sweden, 2009
Heightening the stakes of heist creativity, a gang of thieves utilized a helicopter to execute a bold raid on a cash depot in Västberga, Sweden. Descending from the skies, they bypassed security barriers and made off with millions in cash. While some arrests were made, the true mastermind behind the intricately planned aerial heist has never been identified, and much of the stolen cash remains unaccounted for.
The Swedish National Museum Heist, Sweden, 2000
In a meticulously planned operation, armed thieves stormed the Swedish National Museum, grabbing artwork by renowned artists such as Renoir and Rembrandt and then making a daring escape by boat. The theft and subsequent recovery operation played out like a cinematic thriller, with pieces slowly being recovered over years of investigations, although some items remain lost to the shadowy underworld of stolen art.
The Brink’s-MAT Robbery, UK, 1983
Amid the chaos of Heathrow Airport, the Brink’s-MAT warehouse fell victim to a heist that not only nabbed the thieves £26 million in gold bars but ignited a firestorm of crime, murder, and mystery that would echo through the UK’s crime world for decades. The gold itself melted into the shadows of Illegal trade and criminal empires.
The Schiphol Airport Heist, Netherlands, 2005
In the early 2000s, thieves pulled off one of the largest diamond heists in history at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Estimated to be worth $118 million, the loot was snatched swiftly and efficiently, leaving police and investigators grappling with limited clues. Arrests were finally made in 2017, but as per most on this list, the majority of the stolen goods are still yet to be recovered.
The Bank of Bangladesh Heist, Bangladesh, 2016
A digital infiltration that rocked the financial world: hackers cleverly manipulated the SWIFT network, initiating transactions that sought to move $951 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account. Fortunately, some transactions were halted, but $81 million was whisked away into the dark web of global finance. The money and culprits remain hidden in digital enigma.
The Central Bank of Iraq Robbery, Iraq, 2003
Just before the US-led invasion, a massive $1 billion was extracted from the Central Bank of Iraq. Dictator Saddam Hussein handed his son, Qusay, a written note demanding cash which was then loaded into vehicles. Qusay didn’t quite get away with the heist, and the regime fell just a few months later. Despite all this, only a mere fraction of the wealth ever recovered.
The Baker Street Robbery, UK, 1971
In 1971, a gang of robbers managed tunneled their way into the vault of Lloyds Bank on Baker Street, stealing valuables worth £3 million (equivalent to around $50 million today). Remarkably, despite communicating over radio, which was intercepted by a local ham radio enthusiast, the robbers were never all caught, and their loot was never fully recovered.
The Societe Generale Bank Burglary, France, 1976
This heist has been etched into criminal legend. In 1976 Albert Spaggiari and his gang burrowed into the Societe Generale Bank in Nice and spent a whole weekend in the vault. Apparently, they had a meal including wine and pâté in the vault for a picnic lunch, after welding the door shut from the inside. They left their weekend getaway with an estimated 30-50 million francs. Spaggiari was caught but managed a theatrical escape, and the fortune was never recovered.
The Great Gold Robbery, UK, 1855
In a heist that steamed into criminal history, a staggering 200lbs of gold was stolen from a moving train heading from London to Folkestone. The thieves tampered with the safes, but left them seemingly intact, emptied the gold and replaced it with lead, and escaped unnoticed. The criminals briefly basked in their stolen wealth before detection. The gold, however, was melted down and recast, and remains unfound to this day.
The Manhattan Savings Institution Heist, USA, 1878
This heist was a masterstroke of criminal innovation – George Leonidas Leslie and his team made off with $3 million (equivalent to around $70 million today) from The Manhattan Savings Institution Heist. They managed to get through an incredibly secure building through elaborate planning and expertly crafted keys and tools. More astonishingly – it was done in stark daylight. Though some suspects were caught, the money, and Leslie’s ultimate fate are unknown.
The Wilcox Train Robbery, USA, 1899
Back in the Wild West days, notorious criminals the Hole in the Wall Gang carried out the Wilcox Train Robbery with a bang. They flagged down the train and forced the train crew to separate the locomotive from the rest of the train, then blew it up with dynamite, and made off with $50,000 of cash. They managed to evade capture, and the gang and the majority of the loot dissolved into the vast wilderness, never to be fully accounted for.
The Norrmalmstorg Robbery, Sweden, 1973
Now, this heist actually unexpectedly witnessed the perplexing intricacies of human psychology. The Norrmalmstorg Robbery unfolded in Stockholm’s Kreditbanken, and it ended up entwining the hostages and the captors. They developed a strange, empathetic bond that would come to be known as Stockholm Syndrome. Despite an eventual apprehension, we still don’t fully understand what happened to cause that bond to be formed.
The Maple Syrup Heist, Canada, 2011-2012
A sticky situation unfolded in a Quebec storage facility when The Maple Syrup Heist saw thieves making off with 3,000 tons of syrup. They did this over multiple months, barrel by barrel, and refilled the barrels with water to avoid suspicion. Yes, there were eventual arrests made, but the stolen syrup had already been sold to legitimate syrup distributors who were unaware of its origin. You never know, you may have some in your kitchen!
The Kidnap of Alfred Heineken, Netherlands, 1983
In 1983, beer magnate Alfred Heineken and his chauffeur were abducted by a group led by Willem Holleeder and Cor van Hout. The kidnappers demanded a hefty ransom of 35 million Dutch guilders. After being held in captivity for three weeks, Heineken and his driver were rescued by police. Eventually, the captors were apprehended, but not before much of the ransom was squandered in various parts of the world.
The Brinks Robbery, USA, 1950
Known as ‘the crime of the century’, a gang managed to infiltrate the Brink’s Armored Car Depot in Boston, making off with $2.7 million (equivalent to roughly $29 million today). The carefully made plan involved copied keys, chauffeur’s caps, and rubber Halloween masks. Though all members vowed silence, their pact broke down, and their leader confessed to the F.B.I as an act of revenge. Despite the confession, the majority of their loot was never recovered.
The British Bank of the Middle East Heist, Lebanon, 1976
War zones are chaotic enough, yet in 1976, amidst the chaos of the civil war in Lebanon, a group of guerillas cut through and cracked open the British Bank of the Middle East – using sheer brute force rather than skill. An estimated $20-$50 million in gold bars, currencies, and other valuables was taken away silently. The lost treasures, which in today’s valuation would be a considerable amount more, remain undiscovered – perhaps a reflection of the lawlessness of the time.
The Air France Robbery, USA, 1967
In what can only be described as a heist that flew under the radar, the Air France Robbery of 1967 saw an estimated $1.5 million stolen away with no spectacle. There was no alarm raised and no shots fired… instead, an employee from the inside exploited his knowledge of the operation, and orchestrated the stealthy disappearance of the cash. It was the largest cash robbery that had taken place at the time.
The Circus Circus Heist, USA, 1993
This heist slipped through the bright lights and glitzy chaos of Las Vegas. The Circus Circus Heist of 1993, was carried out by Heather Tallchief and Roberto Solis, and is an interesting story of loyalty and, fittingly, vanishing acts. The duo managed to drive away with $2.5 million from the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. Tallchief surrendered after 12 years, but refused to reveal Solis’s whereabouts or the hiding spot of the majority of the stolen wealth.
The Collar Bomb Bank Robbery, USA, 2003
This eerie crime unfolded in Erie, Pennsylvania, and bewildered law enforcers. Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man, walked into a bank with a bomb strapped to his neck, claiming he was forced to commit the robbery by a group of men who threatened his life. Wells met a tragic and explosive end, yet the money disappeared, and even with subsequent arrests, the full story is still a mystery.
