10 Largest Diamond Heists

We assumed that the latter ones, so-called daredevils, were among those who could dare commit the largest diamond heists in the history. Let’s check this theory.

The Largest Individual Diamonds Heist

Carlton Hotel in Cannes, 2013, £110 million

The largest diamond heist of all time, which was committed by a single person. A man with a scarf over his face and baseball cap on his head entered Carlton Hotel where Leviev's diamond house exhibited its products. He managed to steal the diamonds of estimated value at £110 million. That reckless adventurer was not identified, and the heist was attached to the famous gang "The Pink Panthers."

The Largest “Aged” Diamond Crime

Hatton Garden jewelry heist, 2016, £200 million

Who has said that the spirit of adventurism disappears with the passing of the years? "Dad's Army," headed by The Master of 76 years old, would not agree with this claim. Being aged did not stop them from committing the most audacious diamond heist. An elevator and drilling device—that was all that they used to break into the Hatton Garden deposit vault. From the underground room, the criminals drilled through half a meter of a concrete wall separating them from the vault, and bammo—diamonds were in their pockets. Value of the stones: £200 million.

However, age, indeed, seems to matter. The only robber, who was the eldest one, did not succeed in running away and was imprisoned.

The Smartest Diamond Robbery

Antwerp diamond heist, 2013, $120 million

It turns out that the idea of operating solo was a good thought. If only Leonardo Notarbatolo decided to act on his own, the smartest diamond robbery ever could have been successful. Implementing the best plan, criminals managed to bypass the locked steel gate, ten layers of security, the combo dial, all the cameras, the locked keypad and magnetic, light, heat and motion sensors without leaving a minor trace!

They opened around 120 deposit boxes of the 160 existing ones in the Antwerp Diamond Centre and took the prize of estimated value at $120 million. However, they were imprisoned because of mistakes caused by panic.

The Greatest Monday’s Affair

Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, 2005, $118 million

Every great affair usually starts on Monday. There was not surprising that one of the largest diamond heists occurred on the first day of the week. The robbers, who lied in wait for a truck carrying diamonds from the airport to Antwerp's diamond district, most likely, decided to start a significantly new life, and they succeeded in this.

Being armed with guns, they forced the truck’s drivers out and drove away with the uncut stones of an estimated value at $118 million.

Two Elegant Heists

Harry Winston, Paris, 2008, $108 million

Accusing the mysterious gang "The Pink Panthers" of committing all the unresolved diamond heists seems to be a good old habit. This crime is not an exclusion from the rule. The reason may be in the manner of crime implying visual deception invented by The Pink Panthers. Three charming women entered the jewelry store. Nothing meant trouble until these ladies unmasked their male faces and… guns.

It took them 20 minutes to devastate the store. Diamonds and jewelry valued at $108 million disappeared without leaving any hope to be found ever.

London Graff Diamonds, 2009, $65million

It is one more robbery in The Pink Panthers' style, which is considered the largest diamond heist in Great Britain. This time, the robbers were not dressed like women, but they had the heavy makeup. It seemed the thieves knew that there were no chances to avoid the cameras and tried to mask their identical facial features.

It was an excellent idea; their faces indeed were not identified regardless of the fact they were captured on the TV monitoring system. Thieves took away all the top items in the store, but celebrating success did not last long. Being in a hurry, they left their phones, by means of which the police had found out about these unfortunate adventurers.

The Largest Noble Roberry

Carlton Hotel in Cannes, 1994, $60 million

Yes, it is the Carlton Hotel again. Something went wrong with the security system of this place or maybe it had a special attractive factor for the thieves. Men with guns stole the diamonds of a total worth near $60 million. These were noble robbers, as it was revealed later.

Their guns were filled with blanks so as not to harm the people. Criminals with noble intentions: such things happen.

The Most Cheekish Diamond Heist

Brussels Airport, 2013, $50 million

This crime is one of the most insolent. We have already mentioned masquerade robbery style. This one was also on the masquerade stream, but this time, the thieves had chosen the police uniform to look more persuasive.

Having stopped the airplane with the diamonds worth $50 million, they reloaded the stones to their car and drove away. The active seeking of the diamonds allowed the recovery of just a small portion of the stolen jewels.

The Largest Unrealized Heist

London Millennium Dome, 2000, $700 million

The brightest and the largest attempt at a heist with the biggest prize ever. The robbers encroached on the famous Millennium Star diamond (203 carats) and 12 unique blue diamonds. Police were informed about their intentions long before, and all diamonds were replaced with simulants. We did not mean here the lab-created diamonds (also known as man-made diamonds), which were not simulants, but the same diamonds with a different origin. Laboratory synthesized items have also huge aesthetic and financial value, although they are lower in price than the natural one. So, false diamonds and policemen waited for the heavily equipped losers inside when they broke into the building. It could be the greatest diamond heist, but it became the largest failure.

The Most Curious Medieval Heist

England, 1671, no price

To avoid the talks about moral dissolution of the modern society, let’s look back to the medieval treasury hunters. The robbery of Irish assassin Thomas Blood could be positioned as the first place of the rating. The crown jewels of England, which were his potential prize, had no price; it was a unique treasure. He also could win the first award for his original performance style: a vast number of roles and costumes indeed deserved the Crown. However, instead of it, the thief had got the land in the picturesque part of Ireland as the reward for an amusing attempt.

Diamonds inspire, make people creative and daring, smart, noble and curious. However, it is always better to direct your thirst for adventures and fame to a peaceful path. Inspired people are more valuable in society than in prison! So, stay adventurous, but remember your limits.