This diamond heist has rightfully earned the moniker of the 'heist of the century'. Labeled at the time as the "Heist … “What we are talking about is obviously a … Diamond Heist is a heist that takes place in a privately owned skyscraper containing a jewel vault. With Eddie Marsan. This unidentified man, Notarbartolo claims, paid him to take pictures of the vault’s complex security system and created a replica of the vault. The Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) heist is one of the most notorious robberies in history. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. 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.The ingenuity of the crime draws comparisons with another bold robbery in 2003 — the Antwerp diamond heist, also known as the ‘heist of the century’ — where nearly $100 million worth of diamonds were stolen. In this Monday, Feb. 24, 2003 file photo, people pass a jewelry store in the diamond quarter in Antwerp, Belgium. Flawless by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Cambell takes a look at the heist at the Diamond Center in Antwerp. It turns out that the idea of operating solo was a good thought. It took place in Antwerp, Belgium, during the weekend of 15–16 February 2003. The Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the "heist of the century," was one of the largest robberies in history. The Antwerp Diamond Heist was a perfect crime…almost. Now, to unlock the vault, a numeric code and a key were necessary. So, that's the key. I think visitors liked it, or at least 10k felt it worth clicking in a single day. Antwerp is the world’s prime diamond trading hub; eight in 10 of all rough and half of all polished diamonds are traded in Antwerp. Meet The Man Who Claimed To Have Disguised Jack The Ripper, U.S. Leonardo Notarbartolo known as organiser of the “diamond robbery of the century” was released from prison. 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. As the concierge was supposed to keep an eye out during that weekend, he was interrogated by the police. They had very little clue of what had happened. On 18 February 2013, eight masked gunmen in two cars with police markings stole approximately US$50,000,000 (€38,000,000, £33,000,000) worth of diamonds from a Swiss-bound Fokker 100 operated by Helvetic Airways on the apron at Brussels Airport, Belgium, just before 20:00 CET. Antwerp World Diamond Centre The suspects Leonardo Notarbartolo, a smalltime jeweller, was sentenced to 10 years based on circumstantial evidence. Remember the 2003 Antwerp diamond theft? However, Tavano didn’t have his friend’s level head. Antwerp diamond heist . What was clear from the start, is that these guys were pros and that they knew their way to the vault as their back garden. Copyright Â© 2015-2020 - www.VisitAntwerpCity.com - All rights reserved. The heist was accomplished without a shot being fired. So, the guy sat out his prison time and he is a free man as I'm writing this. Thieves stole loose diamonds, gold, and jewellery valued at more than $100 million. With hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds stored in its subterranean vault, it had to be. And it was there in 2003 that one gang of thieves pulled off one of the largest diamond heists in history. During that week following the heist, a farmer found these bags and called the police. The Diamond Center at the heart of Antwerp's historic gem district has surveillance cameras everywhere and requires special passes to get in. 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 ninety-one million pounds worth of diamonds, gold and jewellery. Haul: $100 million. And it was there in 2003 that one gang of thieves pulled off one of the largest diamond heists in history. Antwerp diamond heist . The day after Valentine's Day in … The alarm system was still armed. Antwerp, Belgium is one of the diamond capitals of the world, with 80 percent of the world’s diamonds passing through the city before being sold on the market. It didn't even notice that the vault was being robbed. Leonardo … The Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the "heist of the century", was one of the largest robberies in history. Friday late afternoon, everything goes nicely in the vault and the vault stays locked until the new work week. 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 ninety-one million pounds worth of diamonds, gold and jewellery. This was, of course, to study the building, the vault, who was who and who did what. I restored it because it was drawing such good page hits. It's even mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the Diamond Heist of the Century! Haul: $100 million. The Antwerp Diamond heist also known as the heist of the century , so in 2003 LEONARDO NOTARBATOLO and 4 other men decided to rob The Antwerp Diamond world center which contained one of the best security systems of the planet , a system that you could only see in movies). It's not the first time that Antwerp's centuries-old diamond trade has been targeted. World's biggest jewellery heists. The Antwerp Diamond District is one of the most heavily secured places in the world, with billions of dollars of diamonds changing hands there every year. That man was Pietro Tavano, known as Speedy and one of Notarbartolo’s lifelong friends. Extreme detailled information to prepare the Antwerp Diamond Heist was gathered during this time and no one ever suspected him! The 50-minute first episode of Heist with Michael Caine is dedicated to the audacious Antwerp diamond heist of 2003. The Antwerp diamond heist played just like a scene out of Ocean's Eleven or The Italian Job. 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.It consists of several square blocks covering an area of about one square mile. Contents. In 2003, Antwerp was the scene of one of the biggest diamond heists in history, when thieves took precious stones, jewels and gold from the high-security vaults at its diamond centre. Postal Service Faked Delivery Times So Amazon Prime Customers Wouldn't Be Reimbursed, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Rome2rio makes travelling from Amsterdam to Antwerp diamond heist easy. Then, with the help of a group of dealers, and Notarbartolo’s School of Turin, the thieves devised a way to get into the secure vault. … The three other Italians were, until today never found, as well as the diamonds. Keep reading for a look at six good to great diamond heist movies you’ve probably never seen (but should). The diamond heist in question took place in Antwerp, Belgium, and it saw a crew of Italian thieves somehow get passed 10 layers of security to the vault underneath the Antwerp Diamond Center, where they stole a reported $100 million worth of goods including diamonds, gold and all sorts of other jewelry. He didn't see or hear anything. But, thanks to one gang member, things eventually fell apart. Notarbartolo claims that they only got $20 million of merchandise. The Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) heist is one of the most notorious robberies in history. After the robbery, they hauled the diamonds into a couple cars. The robbery in 2003 was the biggest diamond heist the world has ever seen. It took place in Antwerp, Belgium, during the weekend of 15–16 February 2003. During this panick, the robber threw out a few binbags that held their burglary tools, money, some small diamonds, some paper and so on. The Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the "heist of the century", was up to that point one of the largest diamond heists in history.The thieves stole loose diamonds, gold, and other jewellery valued at more than $100 million. Credit: Yves Logghe/AP. The diamond heist in question took place in Antwerp, Belgium, and it saw a crew of Italian thieves somehow get passed 10 layers of security to the vault underneath the Antwerp Diamond Center, where they stole a reported $100 million worth of goods including diamonds, gold and all … The other robbers in The School of Turin got five years each. Well, a recent Wired magazine article talked to one of its perpetrators, ... (Though the last diamond heist picture, Flawless, came and went without a trace.) It took two hours to get it all out of the building. Where: Antwerp World Diamond Centre, Belgium. All cameras were covered by black binbags and attached with fine rope. The Smartest Diamond Robbery. Noy, you must now that the diamond heist was noticed on Monday morning, but actually had taken place in the weekend before. Here is the story of the “heist of the century,” the Antwerp Diamond Heist. In 2003, thieves cleared vaults at the Antwerp Diamond Centre during a weekend, with diamonds, gold … In 2003, in the city of Antwerp, the Antwerp Diamond Center was robbed, in what is still to this day, the largest heist in recorded history, with over 100 million worth of diamonds being taken during this fateful day. This is the story of how one gang of thieves pulled off the heist of the century and did the impossible. The Antwerp Diamond District is one of the most heavily secured places in the world, with billions of dollars of diamonds changing hands there every year. It occurred in the diamond district of Belgium on the weekend of February 15-16, 2003. The AWDC used elaborate security mechanisms to protect diamonds, including a private security force, a lock with 100 million possible combinations, infrared heat detectors, a seismic sensor, Doppler radar and a … The $100 Million Diamond Heist That Was Foiled By A Receipt Wikimedia Commons Antwerp, Belgium’s diamond district sells roughly 80 percent of the world’s rough diamonds every year. This is how you get around a sophisticated alarm system!! As you might know, Antwerp is one of the biggest marketplaces of diamonds in the world. Thieves stole loose diamonds, gold, and jewellery valued at more than $100 million. The Antwerp Diamond Center was one of the most secure buildings in the world. Dark of the Sun (1968) A mercenary squad is sent to a … The vault, which was at level - 2 was empty! This book describes a heist that probably brought the thieves more than $100 million dollars in cash, diamonds and other valuables. It was stated by Overkill that this heist would be the most difficult in the game. After planning an attack for four years, the thieves ultimately … Anna Frodesiak 00:30, 22 February 2013 (UTC) See also item: List of missing treasure. Later, he confessed that he went out that night to a restaurant and a drink, and that he returned around 3 in the night. Though arrests were made and time was served, most of the diamonds stolen remain unrecovered. The Antwerp Diamond Heist is known as one of the largest diamond heists in history, with about $100 million worth of valuables stolen right out from under one of the most guarded diamond locations in … These bags and their content pointed the police straight to 4 Italians that were known in Italy as Masters in their field. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. The police and the justice department managed to track him down and after long and tedious interrogations, they arrested him for being the brain of the Antwerp Diamond Heist. The book goes through the background behind the crime, scrupulously detailing the work of the School of Turin, a group of mostly small-time thieves who pulled off the score of a lifetime. As you might know, Antwerp is one of the biggest marketplaces of diamonds in the world. Your curiosity knows no bounds. Thieves: A gang from Turin, Italy . With an enormous amount of diamonds, hidden away, I'm sure he and his comrades are living like kings, somewhere on this planet... About Me | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Me. Two years were spend planning the theft and the description of this time makes for slow reading. The gems were about to be flown to Antwerp, Europe's diamond capital, when the robbers struck. The AWDC used elaborate security mechanisms to protect diamonds, including a private security force, a lock with 100 million possible combinations, infrared heat detectors, a seismic sensor, Doppler radar and a magnetic field. How did they manage to fool those? On the way back, Speedy had a panic attack, and made Notarbartolo pull the car over. After calming his friend down, they recovered most of the contents and sped off. Neither do we. Did they get away with it? Antwerp diamond heist, 2013, $120 million. Set in the middle of Antwerp, Belgium’s diamond district, the center held hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds, jewels, gold, and other treasures. Find all the transport options for your trip from Amsterdam to Antwerp diamond heist right here. Diamond heist, Antwerp - $100million. With hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds stored in its subterranean vault, it had to be. The man behind the Antwerp diamond heist, Leonardo Notarbatolo, was familiar with the area. The thieves got through the 10 layers of security, previously thought to be impenetrable. The Belgian courts sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Authorities say there is $100 million still missing. There are 5 ways to get from Belgium to Antwerp diamond heist by train, bus, taxi, car or rideshare. March 2-4, 2007. Nevertheless, Notarbartolo sticks to his story that he wasn’t the ringleader of the Antwerp diamond heist, and has never led authorities to the whereabouts of the diamonds. The heist was estimated at some $50-million in diamonds, said Caroline De Wolf of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. News. While the heist itself comprises most of the book, the authors discuss culture and industry information as needed. It’s no surprise that its security system was constructed accordingly. It's even mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the Diamond Heist of the Century! During their escape that night, and nobody was following them as everybody was unaware of the robbery, one of the robbers panicked and they had to park the car somewhere in a forest in Belgium. The heist series with a comedic twist is inspired by the 2003 ‘Antwerp Diamond Heist’. It occurred in the diamond district of Belgium on the weekend of February 15-16, 2003. Even though most of the gang, known as the School of Turin, has since been arrested, the diamonds have never been retrieved. Antwerp Diamond Heist. Things speed up as the job is successfully pulled off through a combination of skill, luck and poor security. 100 million euro worth of diamonds dissappeared in thin air! In the weekend, there's only a concierge. February 2003 - … Of all the modern heists on this list, the Antwerp diamond heist of 2003 may be the one that most closely resembles the plot of a Hollywood thriller.. Masterminded by professional thief Leonardo Notarbartolo, the target was nothing less than the biggest diamond district in the world, where the vast majority of the world’s rough diamonds were and still are traded. The code, they must have seen this when the usual gatekeeper opens the vault for the clients. Finally, on Feb. 16, 2003, they executed their plan. Thieves: ... their precise value is hard to gauge—the theft would be the biggest diamond heist in history. But they didn’t realize they were on private property, which belonged to August Van Camp, a Belgian hermit. While law enforcement believes that Notarbartolo was the ringleader, he has said that an unnamed diamond dealer recruited him. The show … He had no clue! Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History details the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist, the largest objective heist in history. The vault was opened by its key and code, so no drilling or cutting or any other Medieval tool. The Antwerp Diamond Center is the world's largest hub for diamonds, doing billions in business each year. It took place in Antwerp, Belgium, during the weekend of 15–16 February 2003. Support "Antwerp Diamond Centre heist". The Antwerp Diamond Heist of 2003 has provided the inspiration for a new Italian scripted series unveiled today by global streamer Amazon Prime Video. He called the police because of the debris, which contained videotape film strung about, a half-eaten sandwich, dozens of small diamonds, and a receipt for a video surveillance system. The value of the stolen diamonds was estimated around 100 million euros! One of these robbers was a very sleek, elegant and charming man, who had an office in the Antwerp Diamond Centre. Now, how ingenious and planned these robbers were to perform the Antwerp diamond heist, so unprofessional were they, once they ran off. 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. Stolen artwork's value is difficult to quantify.) The day after Valentine's Day … Credit: Yves Logghe/AP. 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). In Belgium, whether you steal a 100 million euros of diamonds or some candy in the shop, you can get only charged for a maximum of 5 years in prison! The Antwerp diamond heist played just like a scene out of Ocean's Eleven or The Italian Job. No. Soon, Speedy was throwing the evidence into the woods. Notarbartolo, who was a tenant of the Diamond Centre, was found guilty of orchestrating the heist. February 2003: Antwerp Diamond Center Last week, as Monday’s robbers prepared to storm the jewel-laden plane, exactly 10 years had passed since Belgium fell victim to another giant diamond theft. The Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the "heist of the century", was by far the largest diamond heist and one of the largest robberies in history. At first, the authorities were with their hands in their hair. Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History details the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist, the largest objective heist in history. After this look at the Antwerp diamond heist, read up on the Berlin gold coin heist that’s as unbelievable as they come. The Antwerp Diamond Heist: $100 Million Gone And Never Recovered. Still, there were sensors that detect movement, heat, vibration and cameras! Well, like I said, these guys were pros in their field and must have tested this back home. The police and the justice department were baffeled. The Antwerp Diamond heist. Thieves stole loose diamonds, gold, silver and other type of jewelry valued at more than $100 million. What made this heist so improbable, and so fascinating, was the layers of security measures the thieves had to overcome. They bypassed cameras, the combo dial, the keyed lock, magnetic sensors, the locked steel gate, light sensors, heat and motion sensors, and keypad disarming sensors. Antwerp's judicial director, Eric Sack said thieves copied the masterkeys. De Wolf says the Antwerp diamond community is shocked by the “brutal heist” which included both rough and polished stones. It was enough evidence to link the crime to Notarbartolo. With Eddie Marsan. With the vault 2 stories underground and protected by 10 layers of security, any reasonably-minded person would consider this robbery daunting and impossible. The heist took place during the weekend of 15-16 February 2003 in the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) located in the centre of the gem district in Antwerp, Belgium. More than 30 suspects in a spectacular $50 million diamond heist have been rounded up in three countries and at least some of the precious stones … (Objective meaning the value of stolen goods is accurate. Nice and quiet the usual way. Antwerp's judicial director, Eric Sack said thieves copied the masterkeys. Here is the story of the “heist of the century,” the Antwerp Diamond Heist. The Antwerp Diamond Heist will go into history as one of the biggest diamond heists ever pulled off. Diamond heist, Antwerp - $100million In 2003, thieves cleared vaults at the Antwerp Diamond Centre during a weekend, with diamonds, gold and jewellery worth over $100million taken. We are talking about infrared heat detectors, Doppler radar, a seismic sensor, a magnetic … During the weekend of February 15th, 2003, a team of professional thieves carried off what was one of the largest diamond heist of all time. Stolen artwork's value is difficult to quantify.) It happened in the Belgian city's diamond district — hub of the world's diamond trade — at the Diamond Center, the district's largest building. Directed by Steve Baker. On Monday morning, the 17th of Februari 2003, the Antwerp police, responsable for supervising the diamond neighbourhood and its business, got a call that a heist had taken place at the Antwerp Diamond Centre. The … Organiser Of The World’s Biggest Diamond Heist Released. The vault of the Antwerp Diamond Centre was at that time, considered as one of the most secure vaults in the world. They used aluminum to trick the magnetic field and stripped plastic off the wires of the sensor’s circuits. The Antwerp Diamond Center was one of the most secure buildings in the world. This room was closed by a simple wooden door that can be opened by any grandma. In the Antwerp Diamond Centre, diamonds change hands from Monday till Friday. Hi dearies , I have a question for you … Does crime compensate ? 13 march 2009. Meanwhile, more information about how the robbers got access to the vault, without alarming the alarm system. Two stories underground, an impossibly complex vault stored hundreds of millions of dollars in stones, gold, silver, and cash. In this notorious robbery, nearly $100 million worth of diamonds were stolen. (Objective meaning the value of stolen goods is accurate. How could anyone break in, without being caught?! The Antwerp Diamond Heist, 2003. The city was the scene of a spectacular robbery in 2003 when thieves made off … Apparantly, the key was stored in a tin box on the wall, in the room next door to the vault. Directed by Steve Baker. The Antwerp Diamond Heist is known as one of the largest diamond heists in history, with about $100 million worth of valuables stolen right out from under one of the most guarded diamond locations in the world. The Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the "heist of the century", was one of the largest robberies in history. In this notorious robbery, nearly $100 million worth of diamonds were stolen. The Antwerp street of Hoveniersstraat might look drab but hides a glittering jewel industry that handles most of the world's diamonds. Then, they loaded up bags of diamonds and other jewels. If only Leonardo Notarbatolo decided to act on his own, the smartest diamond robbery ever could have been successful. The company has greenlit Everybody Loves Diamonds from Fremantle-owned prodco Wildside in Rome, with CEO Mario Gianani (My Brilliant Friend) and head of international productions Lorenzo Gangarossa (The Young Pope) producing. In February 2003, Notarbartolo was arrested for heading a ring of Italian thieves. The Antwerp Diamond Center was supposed to be impenetrable. 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. Thieves stole loose diamonds, gold, and jewellery valued at more than $100 million. Where: Antwerp World Diamond Centre, Belgium. The Antwerp Diamond Heist will go into history as one of the biggest diamond heists ever pulled off. Of all the modern heists on this list, the Antwerp diamond heist of 2003 may be the one that most closely resembles the plot of a Hollywood thriller. The crew breaks into the Garnet building skyscraper with the intent of robbing Garnet's vault of its valuable jewels. The same with the security. The Antwerp Diamond Heist video. The Italian masterbrain got eventually 10 years of prison, as they could prove that he was the leader of the gang. This room was closed by a simple wooden door that can be opened by any grandma like scene! Diamonds stored in a tin box on the weekend before ringleader, he has said that unnamed! To get in of merchandise jewellery valued at more than $ 100 million 's judicial director, Eric Sack thieves! 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