Diamond district bank heist in belgium shows daring of thieves. The story of this diamond heist was featured on the travel channels mysteries at the museum season episode 4 titled project vortex, diamond heist and tinseltown, nj, narrated by series host don wildman. Located in the heart of belgiums ultrasecure diamond district, it benefited from two police stations, armed patrols, extensive video surveillance, and vehicle barriers securing an area where 80 percent of. The book goes through the background behind the crime, scrupulously detailing the work of the school of turin, a group of mostly smalltime thieves who pulled off the score of a lifetime. Realworld diamond heists are surprisingly like the heists we see in the movies.
In february 2003, a gang of italian thieves, headed by leonardo notarbartolo, were accused of breaking into. The robbery in 2003 was the biggest diamond heist the world has ever seen. The antwerp diamond center building houses 160 vaults in which diamond brokers leave their stones. Figure 4 vault of the antwerp diamond center after the 2003 heist. Abrams snags writer for antwerp heist movie screen rant. The untold story of the worlds biggest diamond heist leonardo notarbartolo strolls into the prison visiting room trailing a guard as if the guy were his personal assistant. Inside the largest diamond heist in history selby, scott andrew. Nov 18, 2019 the jewelers in the diamond quarter had two choices. New clues have emerged in a police investigation into the worlds largest diamond robbery at the antwerp diamond centre in february 2003.
Heists worlds biggest diamond heist tv episode 2017. Legacy of the antwerp diamond heist the heist is the subject of the book flawless. The book goes through the background behind the crime, scrupulously detailing the work of the school of turin, a group of mostly smalltime thieves who pulled off. They recreate the heist and its aftermath, detailing how the thieves brilliantly neutralized each element of the security protecting the diamond centers vault while inviting the readers into the secretive world of diamonds and diamond dealing. Feb 06, 2010 following the exploits of the rings legman, leonardo notarbartolo, who cased the diamond center for two years by posing as a legitimate dealer in gems, we learn of the impressive security. Inside the largest diamond heist in history by scott. What makes this particular heist the stuff that movies are made of is the extreme difficulty of breaking into a seemingly impenetrable vault located two. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The untold story of the worlds biggest diamond heist nick waplington leonardo notarbartolo strolls into the prison visiting room trailing a guard as if the guy were his personal assistant. Image film to promote the antwerp diamond community. Spies and other covert operatives can easily take a.
Mar 18, 2009 wired has a story on the february 2003 diamond heist in antwerp, perpetrated by some slick italians. How was the multimillion dollar diamond heist at brussels. It took place in antwerp, belgium, during the weekend of 1516 february 2003. It consists of several square blocks covering an area of about one square mile. Aug 25, 2017 recently, two chinese nationals ran out of luck after they were caught for replacing diamond jewellery worth rs 34 lakh with fake ones at an expo in mumbai. Heist in history, about a nighttime robbery at the antwerp diamond center that netted. As you might know, antwerp is one of the biggest marketplaces of diamonds in the world.
Choose your loose diamond from the very best qualities available worldwide. Jul 14, 2015 the antwerp diamond heist is one of these heists, which occurred in belgium in 2003. The story of the heist is better than any robbery moviefictional or real carried out with military precision. Mar 11, 2010 getty diamond traders arent saying it openly, but its clear they think one of their colleagues was perhaps implicated in the plot, youri steverlynck, spokesman for antwerps diamond high council, told the bbc in february 2003 after thieves cleared out 123 of the 160 maximumsecurity vaults in belgiums diamond center the biggest diamond heist in the countrys history.
Heists worlds biggest diamond heist tv episode 2017 imdb. Though arrests were made and time was served, most of the diamonds stolen. The result is a thrilling ride through the betterthanfiction heist of the century. Getty diamond traders arent saying it openly, but its clear they think one of their colleagues was perhaps implicated in the plot, youri steverlynck, spokesman for antwerp s diamond high council, told the bbc in february 2003 after thieves cleared out 123 of the 160 maximumsecurity vaults in belgiums diamond center the biggest diamond heist in the countrys history. The untold story of the worlds biggest diamond heist wired. The book is about the antwerp diamond centre heist. Antwerps diamond district, also known as the diamond quarter diamantkwartier, and dubbed the square mile, is an area within the city of antwerp, belgium.
Organiser of the worlds biggest diamond heist released. Buying diamonds in the antwerp diamond center beware. Site of the antwerp diamond heist the vault that housed the diamonds is situated two. It is well written and describes in detail how it was planned, executed and the aftermath of the then heist of the century. Belgian prosecutor ine van wymersch said the thieves were very, very professional. The largest diamond heist ever went down in antwerp, belgium one of the worlds diamond capitals. The other option is to use every shady trick in the book to deceive consumers and maintain their margins. In february 2003, 123 of those vaults were emptied of their contents by four people who had been planning the theft for at least two years. The antwerp diamond center was one of the most secure buildings in the world. The antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the heist of the century, was one of the largest robberies in history. The jewelers in the diamond quarter had two choices. It begins in 2003 where a group of men robbed one of the most ultrasecure vaults in the diamond district in antwerp, but was it really. Antwerp s diamond district, also known as the diamond quarter diamantkwartier, and dubbed the square mile, is an area within the city of antwerp, belgium.
Belgian burglars raid bank vault in antwerp diamond. Antwerps diamond center, 2003 top 10 brazen heists time. Royal coster takes over diamondland royal coster diamonds. The antwerp diamond center heist goddess of hellfire. He sometimes traveled there to pawn off diamonds stolen back home in italy, having been a thief since the age of eight his first victim was the milkman. The man behind the antwerp diamond heist, leonardo notarbatolo, was familiar with the area. This was one of the most impressive robberies of our time. One of several office blocks in the district, the antwerp diamond center was chosen for the heist because even though its security was formidable, the thieves thought there might be chinks in the armor that could be exploited. In 2003, the biggest diamond heist of the century took place in the antwerp diamond.
The ambition was to showcase a vast amount of diamonds and diamond jewelry to their clients. At this stage, antwerp police say they dont know who was behind the heist. Inside the largest diamond heist in history scott andrew selby, don. Our mission is to give anybody access to a high quality diamond at afforbable. Almost exclusively shot in antwerp, with a little hong kong part. If only leonardo notarbatolo decided to act on his own, the smartest diamond robbery ever could have been successful. Wired has a story on the february 2003 diamond heist in antwerp, perpetrated by some slick italians.
This book was very fascinating read for the largest diamond heist in history. In february 2003, a gang of italian thieves, headed by leonardo notarbartolo, were accused of breaking into a vault two floors beneath the antwerp diamond. The antwerp diamond heist is one of these heists, which occurred in belgium in 2003. Following the exploits of the rings legman, leonardo notarbartolo, who cased the diamond center for two years by posing as a legitimate dealer in. The brussels diamond heist was so perfect that belgian police investigators are seeking a mole who gave secret information on airport security and the movement of valuable cargo to the armed gang. What made this heist so improbable, and so fascinating, was the layers of security measures the thieves had to overcome. The antwerp diamond heist will go into history as one of the biggest diamond heists ever pulled off. In 2003, the largest diamond heist in history occurred and the author delights the reader with the stepbystep preparation and execution of the amazing robbery.
French airport security consultant doron levy said that he was, certain this was an inside job, adding the heist was incredibly audacious and well organized and that big jobs like that were often so well organized that the thieves probably know the employees by name. Inside the largest diamond heist in history by scott andrew selby and greg campbell. The vault beneath the antwerp diamond centre was left open, diamonds and other items of worth scattered along the floor, as it was discovered when the centre opened for business on monday morning. At the books outset, the authors note that they encountered. While as of 2012, much of the gem cutting and polishing work historically done in the neighborhood had moved to low wage centers. The incredible story of how a gang breached what was thought to be one of the most secure vaults in the world, the antwerp world diamond centre, to steal around ninetyone million pounds worth of diamonds, gold and jewellery. What makes this particular heist the stuff that movies are made of is the extreme difficulty of breaking into a seemingly impenetrable vault located two floors below the antwerp diamond centre. In 2003, the biggest diamond heist of the century took place in the antwerp diamond centre. Leonardo notarbartolo known as organiser of the diamond robbery of the century was released from prison. Antwerp, belgium is the diamond capital of the world and through the ultra secure diamond district, millions upon million of dollars worth of gems 80% of the worlds available supply. Although thoroughly prepared, it was shot with a very small crew of mostly. Unfortunately, a lot of the description is conjecture, although very highly educated ones but never actually confirmed by the most important people, those who made the heist.
They recreate the heist and its aftermath, detailing how the thieves brilliantly neutralized each element of the security protecting the diamond center s vault while inviting the readers into the secretive world of diamonds and diamond dealing. Its even mentioned in the guinness book of records as the diamond heist of the century. Two authorities on the diamond trade deliver a thrilling playbyplay account of a 2003 heist in antwerp, belgium. Nov 26, 2017 the man behind the antwerp diamond heist, leonardo notarbatolo, was familiar with the area. Flawless by scott andrew selby and greg cambell takes a look at the heist at the diamond center in antwerp. Lowwage competition rocks antwerps diamond sector duration. Although the crime was perfect, the getaway was not.
Belgian burglars raid bank vault in antwerp diamond district. With hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds stored in its. They did so without tripping an alarm or injuring a single guard in the process. In february, 2003 notarbartolo along with three associates penetrated antwerp diamond centre depot and stole 100 to 400 million euros worth of diamond and other jewelry, cash and securities. Getty diamond traders arent saying it openly, but its clear they think one of their colleagues was perhaps implicated in the plot, youri steverlynck, spokesman for antwerps diamond high council, told the bbc in february 2003 after thieves cleared out 123 of the 160 maximumsecurity vaults in belgiums diamond center the biggest diamond heist in the. Jan 29, 20 image film to promote the antwerp diamond community. Lowwage competition rocks antwerp s diamond sector duration. With hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds stored in its subterranean vault, it had to be. When police reacted to a warning call at a bank in antwerps famed diamond center, they found the vault door still secured. Unfortunately, it seems like the jewelers there at least the 1520 that i went to.
New book suggests hairspray was key tool in antwerp. Inside the largest diamond heist in history, has suggested that hairspray may have been the key mechanism used to successfully break into the vaults located in the grunberger building in antwerp. Inside the largest diamond heist in history by scott andrew. In the first hour, ufo expert nick pope commented on the newlyreleased ufo files from the british ministry of. The antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the heist of the century, was one of the largest robberies. Although individual heists are remarkably popular topics for books. Mole mastermind sought for perfect brussels diamond heist. Amsterdam to antwerp diamond heist 6 ways to travel via.
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