Weird Wednesday: Elderly Men Steal Millions From Basement Vault in London Jewelry Heist

When it comes to writing these Weird Wednesday blogs, we try to focus on news stories that relate to basements, and while the story I’m about to share with you only remotely relates, it’s too good not to share.

A good story, a bank heist movie like The Italian Job, and old people—truly a few of my favorite things (and waterproofed basements, of course). So, imagine my delight and intrigue when Amanda, our digital content specialist, shared an article with me about a jewelry heist in London that was carried out by not one, not two, but eight elderly men!

The team of senior citizens that pulled off what’s now known as the largest jewelry heist in British history had quite a bit of collective experience to bring to the table. The ringleader of the operation, Brian Reader, led a lifetime of crime, first involved in a $50 million bank robbery at the age of 11, later helping steal $103 million worth of gold from a warehouse at Heathrow Airport. Other members of the group like 67 year old, Terry Perkins, and Carl Wood, 58, both spent time in jail for robbery-related crimes. The team used their experiences and extensive knowledge of thievery to raid 73 safe-deposit boxes in Hatton Garden, London’s jewelry district in April 2015.

The safes, located in a vault in the basement (a-ha!) of a seven-story building were guarded by many airlock gates, doors, and various other obstacles. Nonetheless, after three years of planning and learning the ins-and-outs of the building, the men looted $17 million worth of jewels from the vault over the course of their three-day job.

After an investigation conducted by London’s Metropolitan Police department, seven of the men were arrested the following month—one man and nearly $13 million still remaining missing. What tipped officers off? The thieves disabled all but one security camera in the area, which captured the getaway vehicle, as well as several members of the team working.

With prison sentences ranging from 6-7 years, one can only think of the next heist these bad grandpas are plotting for after their release…