$65 million poorer
In a grim homage to Ocean’s Eleven, thieves presumably from either the First Command or the Red Command, the two largest organized criminal gangs in Brazil stole nearly $65 million from a bank. They carried out their elaborately planned scheme on a weekend allowing them enough time to escape before their act could be discovered on Monday when the bank reopened. The modus operandi was simple — they rented a house across from the bank and dug a 200 feet tunnel underground to steal their money. I can almost see Hollywood buzzing with possible movie plots.
Unfortunately the sad news was to follow — Brazilian taxpayers would have to bear the burden of this daring heist. The money wasn’t insured (except for transport insurance) so unless the thieves are apprehended, there is no way of recovering the money. On one hand, it was a daring and well planned act but then so was 9/11. Although no one died, $65 million is lot of money and burden on the taxpayer is significant. I hope this act isn’t glorified in the media or elsewhere. Some people have already found the whole thing quite funny because of the way the act was carried out. It also seems that it was a repeat of a previous robbery done at Sao Paulo. It is indeed unfortunate that the authorities haven’t learnt much. I would love to hear how the Brazilian public is reacting to this news. Well, in India, we have a knack to idolizing criminals.
“$65 million poorer” [Short URL: http://www.ipatrix.com/?p=860] was published Thursday, August 11th, 2005 at 3:53 pm by Patrix, filed under Current Affairs, and tagged as crime, tax. Both comments and linkbacks are closed.
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The modus operandi seems to be a staight lift off from a Sherlock Holmes mystery, though would have to refer to the book to find the exact title. Maybe the Brazilian govt should sue the estate of A.C.Doyle;)
5 years ago replyDitto Dreamweaver…
Kind Google confirms that it is Sherlock Holmes and the Red Headed League
5 years ago replyDreamweaver, Ash, so art imitates life or is it the other way around?
5 years ago replyThis is one of the most common ways to steal a bank. Gives me an idea. Anyways i stay across a citibank.:)
Recently a similar heist was done in Ireland and reported here
This is hilarious…in case you didnt know what bank robbery was…now you do
The issue you touch about the liability costs is what is troubling.
5 years ago replyHmm…
Bonnie and Clyde,Godfather, The Great Train Robbery,
list goes on and on….
By the way I had a book when I was a kid “Vishwa Prasidh Bank Dakaitiyaan” (World Famous Bank Robberies).
One of the more interesting method was when robbers just blasted a hole on the wall of the bank, Neighbours just thought that it was lightening or something.
As a aside regarding Harshad Meheta, do you know that most of our shining indutrialists will be be criminal under that exalted law “FERA”, that and other enlightnened laws from the 70′s and 80′s.
We do not realize it now, but what I think is that these laws were a systemics attempt by ruling party to fill its coffers and ofcourse working towards “equal distribution of poverty”.
5 years ago reply