A BILLION DOLLARS, DIRTY COPS, INSIDE INFORMATION, IT’S A MASSIVE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE WHICH KNOWS NO BORDERS

FOUR days after six armed robbers pulled off Zimbabwe’s biggest cash heist in history, police have said they are yet to arrest any of the daring criminals who robbed a cash-in transit van and drove off with over US$4 million in Bulawayo.

The heist was pulled off on Thursday in broad daylight.

National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, has dismissed messages, and some photographs circulating on social media suggesting that the robbers have been arrested.

“Police are still conducting investigations and no arrests have been made so far,” said Comm Nyathi.

The Bulawayo heist, which translates to about R70m, is bigger than the Gwebi River Bridge cash-in-transit robbery on the Harare-Chirundu highway when US$2.7 million was stolen.

The single cab Ford Ranger appears to be a favourite for these criminals.

But, how does the country’s biggest heist compare with other similar bit hits?

Most of them were executed thanks to the criminals getting a helping hand from those who were robbed.

H-Metro looks at those big hits in other countries:

SOUTH AFRICA

R100m

On March 25, 2006, a gang of 24 men armed with AK-47s stole R100m in cash from an South African Airways plane at OR Tambo International Airport.

They held up police officers and guards after the flight landed and helped themselves to bags of currency flown in from Britain.

It was later discovered that airport staff had helped plan it. After a six-year trial, seven suspects were tried and sentenced for their involvement in the heist.

R87m

On the night of April 27, 2014, an armed gang overpowered and drugged security guards at an SBV cash centre in Witbank.

They cut open a safe and stole R87m. The robbers left the four drugged guards on the Kromdraai Road. Seventeen people were arrested, among them a former Hawks captain, SBV employees, and a police reservist.

R43m

A group of hackers spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in 2012 stealing R43m from the Post Bank system. They transferred the funds into various accounts.

One of the men was nabbed in Welkom almost two months later. He pleaded guilty to fraud and was jailed for 15 years.

R31m

In the biggest cash robbery in South Africa at the time, more than R31m was stolen from the SBV cash centre in Westmead, Pinetown, in August 1996.

The gang stole three rifles, four guns, two cars, ammunition, and three video cameras.

A guard opened the gate for the robbers and another pretended to be held hostage while the security cameras were cut.

Nineteen people, including policemen, SBV guards, a lawyer, and several women were arrested. Sixteen of them were convicted.

AROUND THE WORLD

1). Central Bank of Iraq Robbery in 2003 — nearly US$1 billion stolen 

In 2003, the US invaded Iraq. During this time, nearly $1 billion in cash was stolen. The US military subsequently recovered $650 million.

The theft was orchestrated by Qusay Hussein, the son of the then-president, Saddam Hussein. Qusay was later apprehended and sentenced.

2). Banco Central Burglary

— US$70 Million (2005)

Burglars established a landscaping business near the Brazilian Central Bank.

Over three months, they tunnelled through 78 metres.

Disabled the security systems and broke through 1.1 metres (3.6 ft) of steel-reinforced concrete to enter the bank vault.

The Brazilian Federal Police made several arrests in connection with this heist and recovered a portion of the stolen money.

3). Knightsbridge Security Deposit Robbery 1987 — US$65 million stolen

In one of Britain’s most infamous bank heists, Valerio Viccei, with the help of an insider accomplice, robbed the Knightsbridge Safety Deposit Centre.

They successfully stole valuables worth US65 million.

Viccei gained access by posing as a new customer and then held the staff at gunpoint.

Many accomplices were allowed in, breaking into the boxes and carting away valuables.

4). Northern Bank Robbery 2004

— US$50 million stolen

The gangs held bank officials hostage and directed operations that enabled the thieves to steal the equivalent of US$50 million in cash.

A few individuals have been arrested and tried in connection with this robbery. Yet none of the main perpetrators have been imprisoned.

5). Brink’s-Mat Robbery 1983

— US$32 million stolen 

Gaining an insider’s cooperation is a common tactic in robberies.

In this heist, a gang of 12 members stormed the depot, immobilising the staff and making off with tonnes of gold, diamonds, and cash valued at $32 million.

Several individuals were arrested for laundering the proceeds from this robbery, which notoriously contributed to London’s Docklands Property Boom. — H-Metro Reporter/www.news.24.com/www.stonewallvaults.co.uk

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