The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Diamond Heist [Wired]
In February 2003, [Leonardo] Notarbartolo was arrested for heading a ring of Italian thieves. They were accused of breaking into a vault two floors beneath the Antwerp Diamond Center and making off with at least $100 million worth of loose diamonds, gold, jewelry, and other spoils. The vault was thought to be impenetrable. It was protected by 10 layers of security, including infrared heat detectors, Doppler radar, a magnetic field, a seismic sensor, and a lock with 100 million possible combinations. The robbery was called the heist of the century, and even now the police can’t explain exactly how it was done.
The novel I’m working on involves a similarly impossible heist. It’s cool when reality mirrors the fantastic impossibilities you spend time thiking are too far fetched.
Absolutely incredible story.
