google.com, pub-3998556743903564, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Antwerp Diamond Robbery That Stunned The World

Antwerp Diamond Robbery That Stunned The World

By Bryan Stephen 

On February 15, 2003, in one of the most daring and meticulously planned robberies in history, thieves infiltrated one of the world's most secure vaults at the Antwerp Diamond Centre, Antwerp, Belgium making off with a fortune in diamonds and jewels that has never been recovered.

Throughout the weekend, a gang of Italian thieves led by the mastermind Leonardo Notarbartolo infiltrated the underground vault, breaching a staggering array of security measures to make off with over $100 million worth of diamonds, jewelry, and cash—valued today at approximately $159 million.

The heist, dubbed the "heist of the century," began when Notarbartolo, who had spent over two years casing the building, rented an office in the Antwerp World Diamond Centre to gain access to a safe deposit box in the vault beneath the building. To prepare, he and his crew used an arsenal of advanced techniques, including disabling heat and motion sensors with common household items like hairspray, Styrofoam, and tape, circumventing the building’s 100-million-combination lock and bypassing an array of other defenses, from Doppler radar to magnetic alarms. They even outwitted the vault’s sophisticated double-locked, foot-thick steel doors and disabled security cameras, ensuring they were not captured on tape.

Once inside, they spent four to five hours rifling through 109 of the 189 safe deposit boxes, absconding with a treasure trove of jewels, gold, and cash. The robbers were careful to leave no trace, but in a careless moment, they discarded bags of trash along a highway near Antwerp. Inside these bags were critical clues that led investigators to Notarbartolo.

Despite the incredible success of the heist, Notarbartolo’s gang left behind much of their plunder, including diamonds, pearls, emeralds, and rubies that lay scattered across the floor of the vault. Detective Patrick Peys, one of the first investigators to arrive, could hardly comprehend the scale of the crime. The treasure that had been left behind was enough to finance a comfortable retirement for not only him but for his entire team. Yet, the thieves had made off with an unfathomable fortune, and without the help of the discarded trash bags, they might never have been caught.

The robbers were members of "La Scuola di Torino" (The School of Turin), a group of skilled Italian criminals. In addition to Notarbartolo, who orchestrated the heist, the team included Speedy, The Monster, The Genius, and The King of Keys—each playing a crucial role in the operation. Notarbartolo’s long history of criminal activity and social manipulation made him an expert in the art of stealth, and the gang managed to evade capture for some time. Notarbartolo was arrested in 2005 and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he was released on parole in 2009. After violating parole conditions, he was arrested again in 2013 and served the remainder of his sentence.

The heist remains legendary, not only because of the magnitude of the theft but also because the stolen diamonds have never been recovered. Even as the perpetrators were captured, the loot vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a trail of clues that pointed to the mastermind himself, Notarbartolo. In interviews, he claimed that the heist was part of an insurance fraud scheme, suggesting that the diamonds were stolen to cover for a fraudulent insurance claim. However, the vault was not insured, casting doubt on his story.

The Antwerp diamond heist remains a fascinating chapter in the annals of crime, inspiring books, documentaries, and even films, including the Audible Original series HEIST with Michael Caine. The legacy of this extraordinary crime is woven into the fabric of the diamond trade, and the legend of the thieves continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Despite the police’s efforts, the diamonds remain a mystery, and the Antwerp Diamond Centre, once thought to be impenetrable, will forever stand as a monument to one of the greatest heists in history.

 

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