2003
ANTWERP DIAMOND HEIST
HEISTS
The Antwerp Diamond Heist of 2003 is often called the "heist of the century" due to its audacity and sophistication. The mastermind, Leonardo Notarbartolo, rented an office in the Antwerp World Diamond Centre for several years, posing as a businessman to gain inside access and observe the security systems. His gang spent months planning, and over the weekend of February 15-16, 2003, they managed to bypass a highly complex, 10-layer security system, which included motion detectors, infrared sensors, and a lock with over 100 million possible combinations. Once inside the vault, they stole diamonds, gold, and other valuables estimated at $100 million. Despite the cutting-edge security, they successfully carried out the robbery without triggering any alarms.
Once inside the vault, they stole diamonds, gold, and other valuables estimated at $100 million
The aftermath of the heist was equally intriguing. Notarbartolo was caught after DNA evidence linked him to the crime, but most of his gang members were never apprehended. More remarkably, the vast majority of the stolen goods were never recovered, fueling speculation about how and where the diamonds were sold. Notarbartolo claimed that the heist had been part of a larger insurance fraud scheme, alleging that some of the diamonds were never real to begin with, though this was never proven. The heist remains one of the greatest mysteries in criminal history, with many details of the crime still shrouded in secrecy