1Invisible Bank Robbery Scam Unveiled
In Iran during 2002, authorities embarked on a quest to apprehend a fraudulent sorcerer who had deceived an unsuspecting man into believing he possessed the power of invisibility, allowing him to rob banks. According to reports from the Jam-e Jam newspaper, the misinformed robber's audacious attempts were thwarted by bank customers in Tehran, who promptly subdued him when he attempted to snatch banknotes from their grasp.
During his court appearance, the disillusioned would-be bank robber admitted that he had parted with 5 million rials (equivalent to $625) to a man who purportedly possessed mystical spells capable of rendering him invisible. He candidly confessed, saying, "I made a mistake. I now understand the extent of the elaborate ruse that was played on me."
2. In Antwerp's bustling diamond district, where more than $23 billion in diamonds change hands annually, security is paramount. Carlos Hector Flomenbaum pulled off a remarkable heist in March 2007 by charming his way into ABN Amro Bank's vault. Over the course of a year, he earned the staff's trust, gifted chocolates, and secured a VIP key for unrestricted access. Using this key, he stole over 120,000 carats of diamonds worth $28 million in a single weekend, leaving officials puzzled. Authorities offered a $2 million reward for his capture.
Antwerp's diamond district is known for centuries-old traditions, where deals are sealed with handshakes and trust prevails, often without paper documentation. It's a unique hub where modern security measures coexist with age-old practices. Flomenbaum's daring heist highlights this intriguing blend of tradition and security in the heart of Antwerp's diamond trade.
3. In 1303, a peasant wool merchant named Richard Pudlicott, burdened by debt and determined to change his fortune, plotted an audacious robbery of King Edward I's treasury at Westminster Abbey in London. He recruited church officials to aid in security and promised them hefty bribes. Over several months, Pudlicott meticulously chiseled away at the abbey's stonework, covering the damage with hemp plants he had planted earlier.
After successfully breaching the abbey's defenses, he spent two days inside, making off with an estimated £100,000 worth of treasures, a sum exceeding a year's tax revenue for England. Despite being eventually caught and executed, Pudlicott's crime left a lasting mark, as his flayed skin was nailed to the door of Westminster Abbey as a warning to potential imitators.
4. In December 1968, a daring heist unfolded in Tokyo when a fake cop on a motorcycle duped bank employees into fleeing a supposed bomb threat. The fake officer tricked the four men, who were transporting 294 million yen to a Toshiba factory, into leaving their vehicle. As they fled, the imposter calmly drove off with the equivalent of $3.6 million today. This audacious crime triggered Japan's largest police investigation, costing over $12 million and involving hundreds of detectives.
Despite the massive effort, the case remains unsolved to this day. The only real suspects were a teenager who poisoned himself and a man with a solid alibi. The statute of limitations eventually expired, leaving the thief free from prosecution. To add to the intrigue, another bank employee took out an insurance policy on the stolen cash just 15 minutes before the heist. This daring robbery continues to captivate Japan, inspiring books, movies, TV dramas, and comic book series.
5. In August 1995, Klaus Schmidt attempted a routine bank robbery in Berlin, armed with a pistol and demanding money. However, what set this heist apart was Schmidt's peculiar behavior. Bank employees noticed something was amiss when Schmidt responded oddly during the robbery, revealing that he was deaf. An employee had offered Schmidt a bag, to which he replied, "You're damn right, it's a real gun!"
Seizing the opportunity, one employee discreetly triggered the bank's alarm. Despite the blaring sirens and approaching police, Schmidt remained surprisingly composed, occasionally issuing threats. The police swiftly apprehended him without much resistance. Adding a twist to the story, Schmidt later tried to sue the bank, alleging exploitation of his disability.
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6Lawrence Ripple's Unusual Bank Robbery
In 2016, 70-year-old Lawrence Ripple of Kansas committed an unusual bank robbery, not for profit or notoriety but as an attempt to escape his wife following an argument. After handing a bank teller a note claiming he had a gun, he calmly accepted the money and waited in the lobby for security to arrive. Subsequently, he surrendered to the security guard and was promptly arrested.
Initially sentenced to probation, community service, a fine, and six months in prison, Ripple's attorney and prosecutors advocated for leniency due to his remorse, health issues, and low likelihood of reoffending. Consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Carlos Murguia sentenced Ripple to six months of home confinement with his wife, followed by three years of supervised probation, 50 hours of community service, and financial restitution.
7. In 1972, John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan Bank branch in Brooklyn, New York. Their initial plan was to fund Wojtowicz's partner's gender reassignment surgery, but they couldn't access the vault, leading to a hostage situation with bank employees and customers. The robbers demanded money, a plane to escape, and safe passage.
The 14-hour standoff ended in a shootout with the FBI, resulting in Naturile's death and Wojtowicz's capture. Wojtowicz received a 20-year prison sentence but served only five. The incident remains a notable cultural reference, inspiring the film "Dog Day Afternoon," and highlighting the complexities of human behavior in times of desperation and love.
8. Alan Slattery, a hapless British bank robber, failed three times in two weeks due to his unintelligible handwriting. In his initial robbery on March 18, 2021, cashiers couldn't discern his illegible note, leaving him empty-handed. Although the message later revealed a threat and demand for cash, Slattery's terrible handwriting played a significant role in his downfall. Undeterred, he successfully robbed another bank on March 26, securing £2,400.
In a moment of sheer foolishness, Slattery used his bus pass after the second heist, providing authorities with a clear image of his face. During his final failed attempt on April 1, he fled an empty-handed cashier. Ultimately, Slattery received a six-year sentence, with four years in prison and two years on probation, highlighting the importance of legible handwriting, even for would-be criminals.
9. In 2004, four college students in Kentucky attempted an audacious art heist at Transylvania University's Rare Books Room, targeting invaluable volumes worth millions. Spencer Reinhard, Warren Lipka, Eric Borsuk, and Charles "Chas" Allen II planned to steal these rare books, including John James Audubon's "Birds of America" folios, by subduing the librarian, Betty Jean Gooch. However, their meticulous plan quickly fell apart during execution. The thieves tased Gooch but abandoned their heavy haul after encountering an assistant librarian during the heist. They managed to steal some less valuable books but failed to make any significant profit.
To make matters worse, the gang's attempt to get the stolen books appraised at Christie's in New York City only exposed them further, leading to their arrests. They received identical seven-year prison sentences for robbery and transporting stolen goods. Their audacious heist story, once infamous, has now become a tale of youthful folly, as explored in the CNBC series "Super Heists" and inspiration for the 2018 Hollywood movie "American Animals."
10. In 1988, Attila Ambrus escaped communist Romania by clinging to a train and reaching Hungary. Despite being a terrible goalie, he joined a hockey team, working odd jobs like cleaning and sleeping in the locker room. To make money, he dug graves, smuggled items, and eventually turned to robbing. After a successful post office heist, he became "The Whiskey Robber" for his pre-robbery Johnnie Walker ritual. He had a flamboyant style, handing roses to bank tellers and even sending wine to the police chief. Ambrus committed over 20 heists, once impersonating a cop. Despite a daring jailbreak, he was recaptured after more robberies, totaling 29. After serving 12 years in prison, Ambrus was released, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
11Dean Smith's Bungled Bank Heist
Dean Smith of Wales embarked on one of the most flawed bank robbery attempts in 2014. After visiting his local bank to update his address, he hatched a misguided plan to return half an hour later and rob the same bank. Disguised in an absurd outfit consisting of sunglasses, socks over his shoes, and a hood, he brandished a bread knife as his weapon of choice.
However, his poorly executed scheme quickly fell apart when bank cashiers refused to comply with his demands for money. To make matters worse, an elderly customer at the bank offered Smith £20 to leave-a humiliating twist of fate. Smith fled the scene as the bank alarm sounded, but law enforcement had no trouble tracking him down.
The inept criminal's identity was hardly concealed by his laughable disguise, and updating his address at the bank just before the crime made his arrest inevitable. Consequently, Smith received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence after admitting to the police that his plan had been profoundly foolish, a sentiment widely shared by those who heard of his botched bank heist.
12. A daring mob-organized jewelry heist occurred in London in 2009. Disguised as elderly men with professional makeup, Craig Calderwood and Aman Kassaye entered Graff Diamonds, where they brandished guns and stole approximately $65 million in jewels. Their elaborate escape plan involved blocking access to the store with strategically parked vehicles, but they hit a snag when they crashed into a taxi while fleeing.
Calderwood admitted involvement but claimed coercion by underworld figures. Kassaye and Clinton Mogg were convicted of conspiracy to rob, while the masterminds behind the heist remained at large. Despite their criminal sophistication, their capture resulted from a series of blunders, including leaving behind incriminating evidence, and the stolen diamonds were never recovered.
13. In the 17th century, Colonel Thomas Blood attempted to steal King Charles II's crown jewels in a daring heist. Disguised as a parson, he befriended the jewels' keeper, Talbot Edwards, and his family. Blood and his accomplices gained access to the jewels, attacked Edwards, and removed the metal grille protecting the treasures. They damaged the Royal Sceptre and flattened St. Edward's Crown to fit in their bag. Despite being captured, King Charles II spared Blood's life and even granted him lands in Ireland, while the Crown Jewels were recovered, although the Royal Sceptre was damaged beyond repair.
14. Henry Starr was a notorious bank robber who, in 1893, shot a deputy, resulting in a death sentence. He later appealed the sentence and was incarcerated for 15 years. During his time in prison, he became a hero by disarming another dangerous outlaw, Crawford Goldsby, earning a pardon from Teddy Roosevelt.
Upon his release, Starr resumed his bank-robbing career, eventually targeting at least 21 banks without causing harm to anyone. He published an autobiography and starred in a 1919 movie about his exploits. However, in 1921, during what would be his final heist at the People's State Bank in Arkansas, the bank manager shot and fatally wounded him, ending his criminal career.
15. In January 1995, Macarthur Wheeler and Clifton Johnson devised an absurd robbery plan that later became a case study in poor decision-making. Believing that lemon juice could act as invisible ink, they applied it to their faces, thinking it would render them undetectable during a bank heist. With lemon juice-doused faces, they confidently entered the bank, assuring baffled tellers that their faces were invisible. Unsurprisingly, both bank employees and security cameras easily identified them, leading to their swift arrest.
Confronted with security footage, Wheeler exclaimed, "But I wore the juice!" This bizarre case inspired psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger to explore the Dunning-Kruger effect, a phenomenon where individuals lacking self-awareness overestimate their competence.
162003 Antwerp Diamond Heist
In 2003, Leonardo Notarbartolo executed the most remarkable diamond heist in history, stealing nearly $100 million worth of uncut diamonds from the Antwerp Diamond Center, one of the most secure locations on Earth. Notarbartolo's audacious plan involved years of preparation, including renting an office in the building and storing his own property in the vault to gain access. During the heist, he and his team used a series of ingenious tactics, such as disabling alarms, covering security cameras, and even fooling thermal-motion sensors with hairspray.
Their meticulous preparation paid off as they emptied numerous boxes of gold and diamonds from the vault. This audacious heist involved detailed surveillance, covert photography, and replicating the vault layout. However, Notarbartolo and three accomplices were eventually arrested, and a stack of circumstantial evidence was found, but the diamonds were never recovered. Stolen diamonds are notoriously difficult to trace, making it challenging to prove their ownership conclusively.
17. In the midst of the Great Depression, Marshall Ratliff, a notorious bank robber in Texas, desperate for cash, devised a daring plan. He and three accomplices decided to dress him as Santa Claus for a bank heist in Cisco, Texas, scheduled for December 23rd, a time when a Santa costume wouldn't raise eyebrows. On the day of the robbery, Ratliff interacted with children, blending in as Santa, but his plan unraveled when a woman and her young daughter inside the bank inadvertently alerted the police. A shootout followed, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and one of the robbers.
The gang fled with two young girls as hostages, leading to a massive manhunt. Eventually, the trio was captured after another shootout, in which all three were wounded but survived. Ratliff was sentenced to death but attempted appeals, leading to his lynching by angry citizens. In a bizarre twist, a copycat Santa Claus bank robbery occurred in 2009, with the thief telling bystanders he needed money to pay his "elves."
18. Joseph Grizzard, a flamboyant London criminal in the early 20th century, was known for his theatrical heists. He once astounded his guests by producing stolen diamonds from his soup bowl after police raided his dinner party and were unable to find them. Grizzard's audacious antics included using a stolen 68-ounce gold trophy from the Ascot Cup to serve cocktails. His most famous heist involved stealing the world's most valuable piece of jewelry, a pearl necklace.
At the time, valuable items were shipped through regular mail to avoid suspicion. Grizzard, through bribery, located the necklace, replacing it with sugar lumps and French newspaper clippings. Eventually, the authorities suspected Grizzard's involvement and set up surveillance. Unbeknownst to them, Grizzard had his own surveillance operation on the police. The game ended with Grizzard's goons abandoning the necklace in a gutter, where it was found and turned in to the police.
19. In 2010, during a jewelry store robbery in El Paso, Texas, Noemi Duchene and Luis Del Castillo took an unusual approach to their escape. They arrived at the scene in a wheelchair, seemingly making a getaway plan that wouldn't involve a high-speed chase. Del Castillo pushed Duchene in front of the store, but she quickly abandoned the wheelchair. Instead, she covered her head and upper body with a black trash bag, leaving only small holes for visibility. Duchene entered the store wielding a kitchen knife, demanding valuables from the owner. However, the owner didn't feel overly threatened and refused to comply. A customer in the store tackled the not-very-mobile Duchene, leading to her capture, while Del Castillo, waiting outside, was also arrested.
Interestingly, both criminals lived across the street from the store, which may have influenced their belief that they didn't need to make a hasty getaway.
20. In 1965, Salvador Dalí quickly painted a piece depicting Christ on the cross and donated it to New York's Rikers Island jail. For nearly five decades, this artwork hung within the prison, occasionally making brief appearances elsewhere. However, in 2003, a group of prison guards decided to steal it, replacing it with a shoddy imitation. On March 1, 2003, during a pre-planned fire drill that distracted other on-duty guards, the heist unfolded. The thieves included a lookout, someone removing the painting, and another monitoring the drill.
Following an investigation, one guard was imprisoned, another received probation, and a third struck a plea deal. The lingering mystery centers on Benny Nuzzo, a prison guard whom the others implicated but who was found not guilty in court. Nuzzo, believed to be the mastermind, remained a respected figure for the lead investigator. To this day, the location of Dalí's original painting remains a mystery, leaving open the possibility that it found its way into the hands of a black-market buyer through the botched heist. Benny Nuzzo has never wavered in his claim of innocence.
21Vacuum Cleaner Burglars: Ingenious Heists
In 2010, a cunning gang known as the "Vacuum Cleaner Burglars" devised an unconventional method for robbing Monoprix brand stores in France. Instead of using explosives to crack safes, they discovered a flaw in the cash routing system. These thieves specifically targeted Monoprix because of this vulnerability. To access the cash, cashiers used pneumatic suction lines with tubes filled with money. The gang's ingenious idea was to drill a hole near the safe and connect a powerful vacuum cleaner to suction the money directly from the tubes.
Over five years, they struck multiple Monoprix stores in various locations, causing nearly €600,000 in damages. Despite their extensive criminal activities, the gang remained elusive, thanks to their discretion and caution.
22. In 2009, a gang of 10 Serbian thieves pulled off an audacious heist known as the "Swedish helicopter robbery" in Stockholm. Using a stolen helicopter, explosives, and submachine guns, they landed on the roof of a cash depot, breaching its security. After looting hundreds of millions of dollars in cash from the safes, they fled in a helicopter. Their escape plan included obstacles like caltrops to stop cop vehicles and a fake bomb planted at a police helicopter hangar, delaying law enforcement.
While some of the thieves were eventually arrested, not all the stolen money was recovered. This heist had a significant impact, as Stockholm authorities discreetly warned of potential ATM cash shortages due to the theft's scale.
23. The Jules Rimet Trophy Robbery of 1966 occurred just months before the FIFA World Cup in England. Thieves broke into the Methodist Central Hall in London on March 20, 1966, and stole the coveted trophy. It was found a week later in a garden hedge by a dog named Pickles, becoming an instant sensation and later starring in films and TV commercials.
The thieves were arrested and convicted, but the mastermind remained unknown. England went on to host and win the 1966 World Cup, cementing the trophy's legacy with the famous phrase "They think it's all over... it is now!" coined by commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme. The heist, the dramatic recovery, and England's victory combined to create a captivating chapter in the history of football and the Jules Rimet Trophy.
24. In a daring art heist at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Stockholm in December 2000, armed thieves seized priceless artworks valued at around $30 million. This audacious theft involved masked raiders, including one armed with an MP5 submachine gun, who stormed the museum in broad daylight, diverting the authorities' attention with a pair of car explosions. Two associates already inside the museum joined him, grabbing valuable artworks, including a Rembrandt self-portrait and two Renoirs.
The thieves made their audacious escape via a waiting speedboat, racing away into the waterways of Stockholm. They scattered nails around the museum entrance to hinder police cars from pursuing them. While the boat was later found abandoned in a lake, it took several years to recover all the stolen paintings. Ultimately, over a dozen criminals and shady art dealers were apprehended for their roles in this sensational heist. This audacious art heist drew comparisons to a previous high-profile robbery in Stockholm in 1993, when thieves infiltrated the Modern Museum, stealing valuable Cubist masterpieces.
25. In May 2022, a group of unidentified thieves targeted the 300-year-old temple of Lord Balaji in Uttar Pradesh, India, with the intention of stealing a collection of rare and precious idols. The robbery initially seemed successful, but the thieves returned most of the stolen idols just six days later. The temple's priest discovered the treasures abandoned outside his residence, along with a note from the thieves explaining their actions.
The note revealed that the thieves had been tormented by terrible nightmares, causing paranoia and insomnia, since the heist. Overwhelmed by guilt, they decided to return what they had stolen and begged for forgiveness. Despite their remorse, the police continued their efforts to apprehend the criminals responsible for the theft.
