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It's one of England's
most renowned banks,
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00:00:04,418 --> 00:00:07,376
and its supposedly
theft-proof.
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00:00:07,376 --> 00:00:10,710
There's a reason as to why
it's never been attempted.
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00:00:10,710 --> 00:00:12,585
It's down deep
in the basement.
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00:00:12,710 --> 00:00:15,043
It's completely designed
to be impregnable.
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00:00:15,043 --> 00:00:16,251
Then, a thief,
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00:00:16,376 --> 00:00:19,043
inspired by a Sherlock Holmes mystery,
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00:00:19,168 --> 00:00:21,460
attempts something outrageous.
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00:00:21,585 --> 00:00:24,168
His plan, on the surface,
seems crazy.
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00:00:24,168 --> 00:00:26,543
The way they did it,
the way they tunneled in...
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00:00:26,543 --> 00:00:28,960
It's an amazing piece
of engineering.
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00:00:29,085 --> 00:00:31,460
Digging through eight tons of dirt,
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00:00:31,585 --> 00:00:34,501
they're confident
they'll hit their own payday.
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00:00:34,626 --> 00:00:38,543
And then,
everything starts to go wrong.
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00:00:38,668 --> 00:00:42,376
The tunnel could collapse,
and they could be trapped.
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And they've got
no ventilation at all.
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And they think,
"It's gonna kill us."
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00:00:53,376 --> 00:00:55,876
The masterminds
behind every great heist
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see what most people don't.
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00:00:59,585 --> 00:01:02,626
Risking everything to pull off
the score of a lifetime,
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it takes a bold plan,
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the right team,
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and the skill to stay
one step ahead of the law.
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The safe deposit boxes here
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at the Baker Street branch
of Lloyds Bank,
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where London's
rich and powerful
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stash their wealth
and their secrets.
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It's a tantalizing target
for the right set of thieves.
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00:02:00,668 --> 00:02:05,710
And in '70s Britain, the number
of bold thieves is growing.
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00:02:11,168 --> 00:02:12,918
The early '70s
have been described
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as the hangover
after the swinging '60s.
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Unemployment was up.
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Economic growth was down.
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More so than ever,
through popular culture,
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00:02:21,668 --> 00:02:23,960
through media,
people were being exposed
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to the high life,
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to those with power
and with wealth.
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But yet, there were
very few opportunities
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00:02:29,710 --> 00:02:33,376
to achieve such wealth
through legitimate means.
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00:02:33,501 --> 00:02:35,876
So you're seeing a breed
of developing criminals,
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criminals
who are learning skills.
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00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:39,876
These aren't people who
just rob people in the street.
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These are people
who are organized,
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working out
how to do the big heists.
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The London underworld
had been looking
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at the Lloyds Bank
for some time.
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They knew there were
lots of high value items
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in this subterranean vault
they would've loved to get at.
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Lloyds Bank actively
advertises to elite customers,
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00:03:00,335 --> 00:03:02,293
like celebrities
and politicians.
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There's gold.
There's jewels.
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There's all this wealth
that's there
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in these safety deposit boxes.
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00:03:07,543 --> 00:03:10,043
There's a very good reason
why Lloyds Bank
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is such a compelling target,
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but there's actually
an even better reason
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as to why
it's never been attempted.
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00:03:21,585 --> 00:03:23,085
The Lloyds Bank
on Baker Street
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is probably one
of the most secure banks
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in England,
let alone London.
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It's completely designed
to be impregnable.
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And virtually no other bank
had a vault like this.
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Its bomb-proof door
weighs five tons.
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Its steel reinforced concrete
walls are three feet thick.
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And its
1,000 safe deposit boxes
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require two keys to open.
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And then,
there's the alarms.
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There's also tremor alarms
all around the vault,
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so if anyone were
to try and jackhammer
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or force their way in,
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then they're going
to trigger these alarms
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very quickly
and get caught.
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So this is like
the Fort Knox of banks.
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00:04:04,085 --> 00:04:05,418
It's almost guaranteed
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00:04:05,585 --> 00:04:07,585
that any kind of bank robbery
would be foiled
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00:04:07,710 --> 00:04:09,710
before they can even get
to the vault door.
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00:04:09,835 --> 00:04:12,585
However, there was
one criminal mastermind
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who decided that
he was up for the challenge.
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Well, Anthony Gavin,
on the surface,
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looks a fairly ordinary
kind of bloke
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rather than a serious criminal.
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He's born in a suburb
of North London about 1933.
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He'd had training
in the royal fusiliers
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in the British army.
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We know that he was,
therefore, disciplined,
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intelligent.
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And he knew the importance
of teamwork.
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Anthony Gavin
is a tough guy.
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He's somebody
who will get things done.
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And he's also someone
who is looking
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for that big hit
that will make him rich.
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He looks outside the box
for inspiration
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and finds it
someplace surprising:
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"The Adventures
of Sherlock Holmes."
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Tony Gavin,
like a lot of people,
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is a fan of
the Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
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Sherlock Holmes,
another famous resident
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of Baker Street,
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was involved
in an adventure
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called "The Red-Headed League."
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In it, a gang tunneled
into a bank
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from a neighboring building.
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In this way,
a Sherlock Holmes story
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becomes a real-life inspiration
to rob a bank.
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But he's going
to rewrite the ending.
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Gavin's Holmes-inspired plan
isn't simple.
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He needs to map a tunnel path
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to a spot precisely
below the vault.
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He needs experts
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with the right know-how
to dig the tunnel.
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He needs someone smart enough
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to disable the series
of sophisticated alarms.
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What he needs is a team.
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Anthony Gavin is particularly
good at organizing.
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He could bring
all these things together.
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He could get the equipment.
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He knew how to get people
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to the right place
at the right time.
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00:05:49,543 --> 00:05:51,501
Anthony Gavin
has got a great plan,
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but he knows
he can't do it alone.
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He needs other people
to help him.
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His first hire:
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someone to pose as a customer
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while getting precise details
on the vault.
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00:06:04,668 --> 00:06:09,085
He chooses Reginald Tucker.
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00:06:09,251 --> 00:06:10,835
Reginald Tucker is somebody
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00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,543
who the police
don't know anything about.
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00:06:12,543 --> 00:06:15,501
And that makes him ideal
for Anthony Gavin.
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He goes into Lloyds Bank,
bold as brass,
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00:06:19,126 --> 00:06:23,710
and he opens an account
with a fake name, G. Edwards.
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Depositing £500
and dressed to the nines
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as if he's a high member
of British society,
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he opens the account
with no questions asked.
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And once he's got
the safety deposit box,
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he can go in time after time
to get those measurements
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00:06:37,751 --> 00:06:41,585
to plan out what the
actual vault looks like inside.
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00:06:41,751 --> 00:06:45,418
Next up is a trusted friend,
Mickey Gervaise,
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AKA Skinny.
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He's worked with Gavin
on smaller jobs before,
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00:06:50,418 --> 00:06:52,876
but his real value is obvious.
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00:06:53,001 --> 00:06:55,585
He's a highly skilled
alarm specialist.
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Originally, he'd been working
for a company called ADT,
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which was an alarm company.
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00:07:01,376 --> 00:07:02,418
And then, he decided
to do someone a favor,
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who was a criminal,
and he thought,
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"I can make much more money
from doing this."
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Gavin assigns Gervaise
a critical task:
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00:07:09,751 --> 00:07:12,751
figuring out how to get
past the tremor alarms
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so the team
can breach the vault.
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Trembler alarms are
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a small piece of metal
inside a spring.
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If the device is shaken at all,
the spring moves,
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touches the metal,
completes a circuit,
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and sets off the alarm.
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While Gervaise
investigates the alarms
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and Tucker scouts the vault,
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Gavin searches for help
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with the toughest part
of the heist: tunneling.
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He knows he needs some
very specialized people
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with some special skills.
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He also knows
that he needs to have
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people that he can trust
to not talk.
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Gavin recruits two more men:
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first, Brian Reader,
a guy who can keep a secret,
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and next, Little Legs,
the tunneling expert,
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whose short height makes
being in tight spaces easier.
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Because of some
of the strategies employed
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in pulling off this heist,
we have to assume
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that some of the team members
had engineering backgrounds,
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00:08:04,835 --> 00:08:06,710
mining
or quarry work backgrounds.
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And also,
they were using materials
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that you couldn't find
in just any hardware store.
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If the five men managed
to get inside,
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they'll need someone on the
outside to watch their backs.
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The final member of Gavin's
team is the lookout,
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Bobby Mills.
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With the team in place,
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Reginald Tucker gathers
the details on the vault.
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He takes an umbrella
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into the safety deposit box
with him,
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and he uses it to measure
the dimensions of the room
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to be able
to precisely tell the team
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exactly where they're
gonna need to tunnel in.
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And he does this a long
while before the robbery.
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So they know
what they're dealing with,
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00:08:45,918 --> 00:08:48,460
and they start to think about
how they're gonna get at it.
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Tucker also learns
about a security feature
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that will be a big help.
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The bank manager
would say to him,
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"And one of the great things
about this bank
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"is that we have a time lock,
which goes on every weekend,
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"and that cannot be opened
by even me
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00:09:03,376 --> 00:09:05,251
"until the time
it's designated.
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00:09:05,418 --> 00:09:08,418
"You can't open
a time lock safe.
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00:09:08,543 --> 00:09:10,710
"It won't open till 10:00
on a Monday morning,
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00:09:10,710 --> 00:09:12,710
so everything is safe
over the weekend."
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00:09:12,710 --> 00:09:16,085
So they knew that no one
would be going into that safe
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00:09:16,251 --> 00:09:17,626
over the weekend.
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00:09:17,751 --> 00:09:20,751
But even with Tucker's
successful recon work,
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there are more puzzles
to solve
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before attempting this heist.
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00:09:24,751 --> 00:09:28,001
The bank's underground alarms
are formidable.
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They simply
can't do the robbery
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until they figure out how
to overcome the trembler alarm.
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00:09:33,793 --> 00:09:35,960
And this is where
their first stroke of luck
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comes into place.
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00:09:37,918 --> 00:09:40,501
At the time that he's casing
this bank for the robbery,
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he sees that they're
replacing a water main
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right in front of the bank.
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00:09:44,085 --> 00:09:46,376
This digging,
using pneumatic drills,
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is, of course, going to set
off the trembler alarms.
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00:09:48,543 --> 00:09:50,501
And it does just that.
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00:09:50,626 --> 00:09:52,043
The first time
the police come out,
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00:09:52,210 --> 00:09:55,376
sirens blaring, and they
inform the bank manager
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00:09:55,501 --> 00:09:57,751
that it is the drilling
that has set off the alarm.
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00:09:57,876 --> 00:09:59,918
There's no robbery
taking place.
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00:10:00,043 --> 00:10:02,335
Now, this happens
on a number of occasions.
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00:10:02,335 --> 00:10:04,543
And each time,
the police come out
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00:10:04,543 --> 00:10:07,501
but they have less
and less concern about this.
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00:10:07,626 --> 00:10:09,043
The roadwork
is a lucky break.
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00:10:09,168 --> 00:10:11,793
It makes the trembler alarms
less concerning.
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00:10:11,918 --> 00:10:14,043
But Gavin still needs
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00:10:14,043 --> 00:10:16,876
to find a starting point
for his tunnel.
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00:10:17,001 --> 00:10:19,710
Anthony Gavin chose that bank
because he knew there were
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00:10:19,835 --> 00:10:22,126
many businesses opening
and closing in the area.
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00:10:22,251 --> 00:10:23,793
And a short time later,
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00:10:23,918 --> 00:10:26,710
a business closes just
two doors away from the bank.
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00:10:26,835 --> 00:10:28,793
It's called Le Sac.
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00:10:28,918 --> 00:10:30,376
And the gang moves in.
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00:10:30,501 --> 00:10:33,085
The advantage of Le Sac
is it has a basement.
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00:10:33,210 --> 00:10:35,543
And that basement
is in direct line
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00:10:35,543 --> 00:10:38,001
with the vault two doors up.
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00:10:38,001 --> 00:10:40,293
They need to have somebody
to take out the lease
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00:10:40,418 --> 00:10:43,043
on the building and lease
this building legitimately,
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00:10:43,168 --> 00:10:46,001
so Gavin enlists
a silent partner.
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00:10:46,001 --> 00:10:48,418
This is somebody
that nobody in the team
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00:10:48,543 --> 00:10:50,543
other than Gavin knows.
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00:10:50,668 --> 00:10:52,918
With a dig site secured,
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00:10:53,043 --> 00:10:55,668
Gavin and the team
start the next phase.
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00:10:55,793 --> 00:10:57,751
To disguise
their real mission,
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00:10:57,918 --> 00:11:01,210
they dress as contractors
renovating the leather shop.
242
00:11:01,210 --> 00:11:04,960
The basement of Le Sac
is 40 feet away
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00:11:05,085 --> 00:11:06,751
from the vault
underneath Lloyds Bank.
244
00:11:06,918 --> 00:11:08,376
So this is going to be
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00:11:08,501 --> 00:11:11,210
an incredible feat
of engineering.
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00:11:11,335 --> 00:11:13,418
And this was not something
they did over one weekend.
247
00:11:13,585 --> 00:11:15,710
They did it
over a period of weeks.
248
00:11:15,710 --> 00:11:17,710
They only dig at weekends
249
00:11:17,876 --> 00:11:20,710
when they think
very few people will notice.
250
00:11:20,876 --> 00:11:23,793
Tunneling is slow,
difficult work.
251
00:11:23,918 --> 00:11:27,460
And they have to do it for
40 feet to reach the vault.
252
00:11:27,585 --> 00:11:30,918
That's more than eight tons
of dirt and bricks.
253
00:11:31,043 --> 00:11:33,460
Then, one Sunday night,
254
00:11:33,585 --> 00:11:36,876
the team's digging
almost buries the whole plan.
255
00:11:36,876 --> 00:11:39,710
So August the 15th, 1971,
256
00:11:39,835 --> 00:11:41,335
proves to be a bit
of a difficult day
257
00:11:41,460 --> 00:11:43,876
because you can't dig a tunnel,
especially when there's
258
00:11:44,001 --> 00:11:46,668
lots of bricks and all that
and you're chiseling them out.
259
00:11:46,793 --> 00:11:49,085
And it makes noise.
It makes vibrations.
260
00:11:49,251 --> 00:11:51,835
And as they're moving past
Le Sac, the leather goods,
261
00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:53,710
they start to go
underneath the Chicken Inn.
262
00:11:53,835 --> 00:11:54,876
It's a fried chicken place.
263
00:11:54,876 --> 00:11:57,043
And there's staff there
on the weekends.
264
00:11:57,210 --> 00:11:59,001
And they keep hearing
all these noises, you see?
265
00:11:59,126 --> 00:12:01,043
And they can't make out
what it is.
266
00:12:01,168 --> 00:12:03,126
So at one point,
they actually go
267
00:12:03,251 --> 00:12:05,335
and knock on the door
of Le Sac
268
00:12:05,460 --> 00:12:08,043
to see whether they know
what the noise is.
269
00:12:08,043 --> 00:12:09,918
But the robbery team
are down in the basement.
270
00:12:10,043 --> 00:12:12,043
They can't hear anything.
271
00:12:12,043 --> 00:12:12,710
They don't know
people are upstairs.
272
00:12:12,710 --> 00:12:14,001
And they don't
answer the door.
273
00:12:14,126 --> 00:12:16,668
So the staff
of the Chicken Inn,
274
00:12:16,793 --> 00:12:19,210
they actually think
about ringing the police.
275
00:12:19,335 --> 00:12:22,210
Is the robbery
about to be rumbled?
276
00:12:22,335 --> 00:12:25,543
The stakes are so high
at this moment.
277
00:12:35,710 --> 00:12:38,210
It's one month
before the heist,
278
00:12:38,376 --> 00:12:40,376
and the team's efforts
279
00:12:40,376 --> 00:12:42,293
to tunnel their way
to the Lloyds Bank vault
280
00:12:42,418 --> 00:12:45,043
is attracting
some unwanted attention.
281
00:12:45,168 --> 00:12:46,876
A member of staff
from the Chicken Inn
282
00:12:47,001 --> 00:12:48,751
goes to investigate.
283
00:12:48,918 --> 00:12:52,210
The stakes are so high
at this moment.
284
00:12:52,335 --> 00:12:54,293
Is he going to call the police?
285
00:12:54,418 --> 00:12:56,668
Is he going to try and get
through and into the shop?
286
00:13:05,876 --> 00:13:07,793
Gavin has no idea
who's knocking,
287
00:13:07,918 --> 00:13:09,501
but anyone
who sees the basement
288
00:13:09,501 --> 00:13:13,168
will know this isn't
an ordinary renovation.
289
00:13:13,168 --> 00:13:15,001
He apologizes for the noise.
290
00:13:15,126 --> 00:13:16,751
And after some grumbling,
291
00:13:16,918 --> 00:13:19,668
the Chicken Inn employee
goes away.
292
00:13:19,668 --> 00:13:21,210
That was
a really close call.
293
00:13:21,335 --> 00:13:24,668
So, again, this robbery team
were very lucky.
294
00:13:24,668 --> 00:13:26,501
And luck is an important part
of crime.
295
00:13:26,626 --> 00:13:29,751
Luck is also an important
part of tunneling,
296
00:13:29,876 --> 00:13:31,751
even for skilled diggers.
297
00:13:31,876 --> 00:13:34,626
With layers
of unstable dirt and debris
298
00:13:34,751 --> 00:13:36,460
built up over centuries,
299
00:13:36,585 --> 00:13:38,751
each brick they remove
300
00:13:38,876 --> 00:13:41,376
could trigger
a deadly collapse.
301
00:13:41,501 --> 00:13:44,501
They're digging
through Victorian buildings,
302
00:13:44,501 --> 00:13:46,126
crumbling foundations.
303
00:13:46,251 --> 00:13:49,626
Even though they had
mining experts on the team,
304
00:13:49,751 --> 00:13:51,376
there's always the danger
305
00:13:51,376 --> 00:13:54,376
the tunnel could collapse
and they could be trapped.
306
00:13:54,501 --> 00:13:57,418
If the tunnel collapses
onto them, it's game over.
307
00:13:57,585 --> 00:14:00,001
No one's gonna call paramedics
to tell them that,
308
00:14:00,001 --> 00:14:02,585
"Hey, we have a person
that is underground,
309
00:14:02,710 --> 00:14:04,710
and he needs help."
310
00:14:04,835 --> 00:14:07,085
This is not
a glamorous robbery.
311
00:14:07,251 --> 00:14:09,210
It's dark.
It's claustrophobic.
312
00:14:09,376 --> 00:14:12,210
It's hot.
There's very little oxygen.
313
00:14:12,335 --> 00:14:15,085
So they cleared the earth
into sacks,
314
00:14:15,210 --> 00:14:16,585
which they store on the side.
315
00:14:16,710 --> 00:14:18,168
And as they get further in,
316
00:14:18,168 --> 00:14:20,876
they start to use a trolley
on pulley ropes
317
00:14:20,876 --> 00:14:23,085
so that they can
move the earth back.
318
00:14:23,210 --> 00:14:26,501
They also send
their recon man, Tucker,
319
00:14:26,501 --> 00:14:29,876
to check the tunnel's progress
from above ground.
320
00:14:30,043 --> 00:14:31,460
Mapping out
the inside of the vault
321
00:14:31,585 --> 00:14:33,876
is only half
of Reg Tucker's job.
322
00:14:34,001 --> 00:14:37,001
The gang also need to know
how far to dig.
323
00:14:37,126 --> 00:14:39,501
Tucker paces the sidewalk
324
00:14:39,501 --> 00:14:42,876
to determine how far
the tunnel is from the vault.
325
00:14:43,043 --> 00:14:44,751
Gavin needs
these measurements,
326
00:14:44,918 --> 00:14:48,835
along with compass readings,
to keep the team on target.
327
00:14:48,835 --> 00:14:51,668
Imagine months and months
of digging
328
00:14:51,668 --> 00:14:53,918
only to then pop up
in the middle of Central London
329
00:14:54,085 --> 00:14:56,001
on the pavement.
330
00:14:56,126 --> 00:14:58,460
After nine weeks
of dangerous work,
331
00:14:58,585 --> 00:15:01,376
the team thinks
they're just below the vault.
332
00:15:01,501 --> 00:15:03,501
But before they try
to breach it,
333
00:15:03,501 --> 00:15:06,335
Gavin wants to make sure
the tremor alarms
334
00:15:06,460 --> 00:15:09,793
they hope are off
are really off.
335
00:15:09,918 --> 00:15:11,710
Gavin and the team believe
336
00:15:11,876 --> 00:15:14,126
that the seismic alarms
from the bank
337
00:15:14,251 --> 00:15:16,960
either have to be turned down
low or off completely
338
00:15:17,085 --> 00:15:18,793
because of the construction
that's continually
339
00:15:18,918 --> 00:15:21,210
setting off these alarms
in the bank.
340
00:15:21,335 --> 00:15:24,043
Gervaise is able
to make a discreet inquiry
341
00:15:24,210 --> 00:15:26,668
followed with some money,
of course,
342
00:15:26,668 --> 00:15:29,501
to find out if the alarms have
actually been switched off.
343
00:15:29,501 --> 00:15:32,751
And as a stroke of luck,
they've been turned off.
344
00:15:32,876 --> 00:15:35,668
Because those tremor alarms
have been deactivated,
345
00:15:35,793 --> 00:15:37,876
there are no automatic systems
346
00:15:37,876 --> 00:15:40,668
to detect their approach
to the vault.
347
00:15:40,668 --> 00:15:42,543
It's all set.
348
00:15:42,543 --> 00:15:45,126
The team will have
from Friday at 5:00 p.m.
349
00:15:45,251 --> 00:15:47,376
until 10:00 a.m. Monday,
350
00:15:47,501 --> 00:15:51,210
when the vault door's
time lock will disengage.
351
00:15:51,335 --> 00:15:55,001
They'll have an entire weekend
to get rich.
352
00:15:57,043 --> 00:15:58,460
The following weekend,
353
00:15:58,585 --> 00:16:00,960
five of the crew members
enter the shop,
354
00:16:01,085 --> 00:16:03,168
making their way
into the tunnel.
355
00:16:03,168 --> 00:16:07,085
Lookout Bobby Mills keeps
watch from a rooftop above.
356
00:16:07,210 --> 00:16:09,418
He has a walkie talkie
to talk to them.
357
00:16:09,585 --> 00:16:13,543
And he is keeping an eye
on everyone coming and going.
358
00:16:13,543 --> 00:16:16,043
And the word comes
over the walkie talkies
359
00:16:16,043 --> 00:16:17,210
from the lookout.
360
00:16:17,210 --> 00:16:19,501
"There's no one around. Go."
361
00:16:23,043 --> 00:16:24,501
The heist is on.
362
00:16:24,626 --> 00:16:26,418
All that stands
between the crew
363
00:16:26,543 --> 00:16:28,626
and the richest vault
in England
364
00:16:28,751 --> 00:16:32,626
is two feet
of steel-reinforced concrete.
365
00:16:32,751 --> 00:16:35,376
And this is where
things get really difficult.
366
00:16:35,501 --> 00:16:37,543
Breaching is basically using
367
00:16:37,668 --> 00:16:40,001
the least amount
of practical force
368
00:16:40,126 --> 00:16:43,376
in gaining entry to a room
or a structure.
369
00:16:43,376 --> 00:16:46,126
So Gavin's first course
of action
370
00:16:46,251 --> 00:16:51,126
is mechanical breaching
using a hydraulic jack.
371
00:16:51,251 --> 00:16:54,210
They put the jack in place
and start jacking it up.
372
00:16:54,210 --> 00:16:56,085
It's a bit like if you're
taking a wheel off a car.
373
00:16:56,251 --> 00:16:58,085
It's that kind of jack.
374
00:16:58,210 --> 00:16:59,710
But the jack
isn't strong enough,
375
00:16:59,835 --> 00:17:01,376
because unknown to the gang,
376
00:17:01,501 --> 00:17:04,001
underneath where they are
is an old spring.
377
00:17:04,001 --> 00:17:06,335
The ground is soft.
It gives way.
378
00:17:06,335 --> 00:17:08,501
They're pushing
and shoving this thing,
379
00:17:08,501 --> 00:17:11,085
and it just
won't crack the floor.
380
00:17:11,210 --> 00:17:13,043
So they have a real problem.
381
00:17:13,168 --> 00:17:14,501
Thinking of a plan B--
382
00:17:14,501 --> 00:17:16,876
Gavin's always got something
up his sleeve--
383
00:17:16,876 --> 00:17:19,460
they decide
to use a thermal lance.
384
00:17:19,585 --> 00:17:22,085
Now, this is a really
high-end piece of equipment.
385
00:17:22,251 --> 00:17:23,376
And so, they try
386
00:17:23,501 --> 00:17:25,876
and cut through
the solid floor by using it.
387
00:17:26,001 --> 00:17:28,710
but the space is too small
and the fumes are thick.
388
00:17:28,710 --> 00:17:31,376
And poisonous gas
is coming out from it.
389
00:17:31,501 --> 00:17:34,543
And it should never be used
in an enclosed space.
390
00:17:34,668 --> 00:17:37,751
A thermal lance is
like a hot glue gun,
391
00:17:37,918 --> 00:17:41,210
except it spits out
molten steel and aluminum.
392
00:17:41,210 --> 00:17:43,460
The 8,000-degree mixture
393
00:17:43,585 --> 00:17:46,585
can slice through steel
and solid rock.
394
00:17:46,751 --> 00:17:49,293
It can get them
into the vault quickly,
395
00:17:49,418 --> 00:17:52,126
or it could
get them all killed.
396
00:17:52,251 --> 00:17:53,543
It potentially
could blow up,
397
00:17:53,543 --> 00:17:56,001
because you're messing
with pressurized gas.
398
00:17:56,001 --> 00:17:57,543
You can't just go in there
399
00:17:57,543 --> 00:17:58,876
wearing what you're wearing
right now
400
00:17:59,001 --> 00:18:00,585
and start using the torch
401
00:18:00,710 --> 00:18:02,876
because it produces
a lot of slag,
402
00:18:03,001 --> 00:18:05,835
hot molten rocks and debris,
403
00:18:05,835 --> 00:18:07,043
especially on that angle.
404
00:18:07,168 --> 00:18:09,085
If you're trying
to reach that way,
405
00:18:09,251 --> 00:18:11,418
all that stuff
is gonna fall down on you.
406
00:18:11,543 --> 00:18:13,085
And they've got
no ventilation,
407
00:18:13,251 --> 00:18:14,710
of course,
because they're in a tunnel.
408
00:18:14,710 --> 00:18:17,585
So they think,
"It's gonna kill us."
409
00:18:28,585 --> 00:18:30,960
Two and a half hours
into the heist,
410
00:18:31,085 --> 00:18:35,751
the plan to break into
the Lloyds of London vault
411
00:18:35,876 --> 00:18:37,960
is breaking down.
412
00:18:38,085 --> 00:18:40,126
After a setback with the jack,
413
00:18:40,251 --> 00:18:42,460
Anthony Gavin and his crew
are trying
414
00:18:42,585 --> 00:18:46,043
to cut through the concrete
floor with a thermal lance.
415
00:18:48,376 --> 00:18:50,668
It fills the tunnel
with fumes
416
00:18:50,668 --> 00:18:53,418
and it doesn't seem to be
making any progress at all.
417
00:18:53,585 --> 00:18:56,710
Still, that concrete
and steel floor resists them.
418
00:18:58,376 --> 00:19:01,668
As his crew chokes
on toxic fumes,
419
00:19:01,793 --> 00:19:03,335
Gavin calls for a stop.
420
00:19:03,335 --> 00:19:04,876
And they think,
"We haven't got enough time.
421
00:19:04,876 --> 00:19:06,085
"We can't do this.
422
00:19:06,251 --> 00:19:08,251
"It's gonna take us days
to cut through.
423
00:19:08,251 --> 00:19:09,335
"It's gonna kill us.
424
00:19:09,335 --> 00:19:09,418
"It's really dangerous
425
00:19:09,585 --> 00:19:11,376
"'cause we're breathing
all these fumes
426
00:19:11,376 --> 00:19:13,085
"and the heat is tremendous.
427
00:19:13,210 --> 00:19:14,460
"So what are we going to do?
428
00:19:14,585 --> 00:19:16,876
We better look for a plan C."
429
00:19:18,751 --> 00:19:20,793
As his crew chokes
on toxic fumes,
430
00:19:20,918 --> 00:19:24,376
Gavin calls for a stop
and a change of tactic.
431
00:19:24,543 --> 00:19:25,626
They're behind schedule
432
00:19:25,751 --> 00:19:27,835
and their lance
isn't exactly silent.
433
00:19:27,835 --> 00:19:32,501
That leaves one option,
and it's a little less subtle.
434
00:19:32,501 --> 00:19:35,876
And that's
when they pull out explosives.
435
00:19:36,043 --> 00:19:38,251
Now, this is really risky,
really dangerous,
436
00:19:38,418 --> 00:19:40,376
but they've got desperate.
437
00:19:40,543 --> 00:19:42,710
Plan A hasn't worked.
438
00:19:42,876 --> 00:19:44,376
Plan B hasn't worked.
439
00:19:44,501 --> 00:19:46,043
So they move on to plan C.
440
00:19:48,085 --> 00:19:49,585
It may seem a bit dramatic,
441
00:19:49,710 --> 00:19:51,710
but they thought,
"Well, this is the only way
442
00:19:51,835 --> 00:19:54,418
we're gonna get through, is to
blow a hole through the floor."
443
00:19:54,543 --> 00:19:56,710
So when it comes
to explosive operations,
444
00:19:56,876 --> 00:19:59,585
it is not necessarily hard
to do.
445
00:19:59,751 --> 00:20:03,585
It is just very easy
to mess up.
446
00:20:03,751 --> 00:20:05,793
One small move,
one small error,
447
00:20:05,918 --> 00:20:08,460
and you are done.
448
00:20:08,585 --> 00:20:11,335
Imagine the conditions underground.
449
00:20:11,335 --> 00:20:13,251
The air is thick with fumes
450
00:20:13,376 --> 00:20:15,585
from trying to use
the thermal lance.
451
00:20:15,751 --> 00:20:17,543
And so,
what they then try to do
452
00:20:17,543 --> 00:20:20,876
is they drill holes
into the floor of the vault.
453
00:20:20,876 --> 00:20:23,293
And they insert gelignite.
454
00:20:23,418 --> 00:20:25,376
They use gelignite,
455
00:20:25,376 --> 00:20:28,668
which is basically
a safer cousin of dynamite.
456
00:20:28,668 --> 00:20:31,293
It's malleable enough
for you to mold it
457
00:20:31,418 --> 00:20:33,293
in shapes that you needed.
458
00:20:33,418 --> 00:20:36,043
In this case,
they were able to insert it
459
00:20:36,210 --> 00:20:38,335
into those drill holes.
460
00:20:38,335 --> 00:20:41,168
When detonated,
the force of the explosion
461
00:20:41,293 --> 00:20:43,210
should travel upwards,
462
00:20:43,210 --> 00:20:44,751
not blow back
through the tunnel
463
00:20:44,918 --> 00:20:46,543
and into the basement.
464
00:20:46,668 --> 00:20:49,085
Using explosives
in a tunnel
465
00:20:49,251 --> 00:20:51,501
is a great way
to kill yourself.
466
00:20:51,626 --> 00:20:53,126
They retreat
down the tunnel
467
00:20:53,251 --> 00:20:55,710
to what they hope
will be a safe distance.
468
00:20:55,710 --> 00:20:57,043
They've got the lookout
on a building.
469
00:20:57,210 --> 00:20:59,085
And he's watching out.
470
00:20:59,210 --> 00:21:01,126
So it becomes a question.
471
00:21:01,251 --> 00:21:03,460
Are they gonna
blow themselves up,
472
00:21:03,585 --> 00:21:05,835
or are they gonna
bury themselves alive?
473
00:21:12,876 --> 00:21:15,710
So they've done it,
finally done it.
474
00:21:17,543 --> 00:21:19,001
And there's
this heart-stopping moment,
475
00:21:19,001 --> 00:21:21,460
this moment of elation
that all the work,
476
00:21:21,585 --> 00:21:23,793
they finally got
in this place.
477
00:21:23,918 --> 00:21:25,876
They know no one else
could do this.
478
00:21:25,876 --> 00:21:28,043
Through the haze
from the explosion,
479
00:21:28,168 --> 00:21:32,001
the Baker Street burglars get
their first glimpse inside--
480
00:21:32,126 --> 00:21:36,668
a thousand safe deposit boxes
holding millions in loot.
481
00:21:36,668 --> 00:21:38,501
Once the gang
are inside the vault,
482
00:21:38,501 --> 00:21:42,001
it should be plain sailing,
but it isn't.
483
00:21:42,001 --> 00:21:44,376
And the vault, which is
a relatively small room
484
00:21:44,543 --> 00:21:46,668
and, of course,
completely airtight,
485
00:21:46,668 --> 00:21:49,626
is filled with
the choking rubble and fumes
486
00:21:49,751 --> 00:21:52,710
of the explosion that they just
used to blast their way in.
487
00:21:54,626 --> 00:21:56,543
The task ahead is huge.
488
00:21:56,668 --> 00:21:57,960
They still need
to go and break
489
00:21:58,085 --> 00:22:00,543
into hundreds
of safety deposit boxes.
490
00:22:00,668 --> 00:22:01,918
And they have a decision
to make.
491
00:22:02,085 --> 00:22:06,376
Do they stay and take what
they can in those conditions,
492
00:22:06,501 --> 00:22:09,668
or do they leave, get
some fresh air, get some rest,
493
00:22:09,668 --> 00:22:12,501
and then come back calmly
a few hours later
494
00:22:12,501 --> 00:22:15,043
to do a much more
professional job?
495
00:22:15,168 --> 00:22:19,210
Gavin calls lookout Bobby
Mills on the walkie talkie
496
00:22:19,210 --> 00:22:21,585
to discuss
the change in plans.
497
00:22:21,751 --> 00:22:23,793
What Gavin and the crew
don't know
498
00:22:23,918 --> 00:22:27,876
is that an amateur
radio enthusiast has tuned in.
499
00:22:32,335 --> 00:22:34,001
Robert Rowlands
is convinced
500
00:22:34,001 --> 00:22:37,751
he's listening in
on a raid taking place.
501
00:22:39,668 --> 00:22:40,793
And at first,
he thinks he's got--
502
00:22:40,918 --> 00:22:44,085
it's a radio play
about some criminal activity.
503
00:22:44,210 --> 00:22:46,543
And then, he starts to realize,
it's not a radio play.
504
00:22:46,710 --> 00:22:49,668
It's actually real life.
505
00:22:49,668 --> 00:22:52,460
He thinks
it's his local tobacconists.
506
00:22:52,585 --> 00:22:55,043
He contacts
his local police station,
507
00:22:55,168 --> 00:22:57,710
but they're not interested.
508
00:22:57,876 --> 00:22:59,626
So he said, "Well, OK, sir.
509
00:22:59,751 --> 00:23:01,793
"Well, if you hear any more,
510
00:23:01,918 --> 00:23:04,168
try and record it
so we can hear it."
511
00:23:04,293 --> 00:23:06,043
And so, he does.
512
00:23:34,751 --> 00:23:37,085
Bobby Mills is stood
on top of the building.
513
00:23:37,210 --> 00:23:39,626
He doesn't quite understand
the conditions
514
00:23:39,751 --> 00:23:41,835
that the men
have been working through.
515
00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,043
We then hear this incredible
exchange of words
516
00:23:45,168 --> 00:23:48,085
as they negotiate
what they're going to do next.
517
00:24:24,668 --> 00:24:26,501
It's all horrible.
They're all coughing.
518
00:24:26,501 --> 00:24:29,126
And then, the lookout, he's
had his binoculars on all day,
519
00:24:29,251 --> 00:24:32,668
and his eyes are beginning to--
he puts it like "organ stops."
520
00:24:32,668 --> 00:24:35,210
But what are they gonna do?
Are they gonna press on?
521
00:24:35,210 --> 00:24:38,876
But here, we begin to witness
the team falling apart
522
00:24:38,876 --> 00:24:41,335
at the most crucial moment.
523
00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:44,251
You can hear the stress
in the voices.
524
00:24:44,418 --> 00:24:45,918
They're swearing.
525
00:24:46,085 --> 00:24:48,460
They're becoming quite angry
with one another.
526
00:24:48,585 --> 00:24:50,960
And one of them commits
the cardinal sin.
527
00:24:51,085 --> 00:24:53,543
They mention one
of the team members' names.
528
00:25:24,793 --> 00:25:26,626
Anthony Gavin's crew
is finally
529
00:25:26,751 --> 00:25:29,543
inside the Baker Street
bank vault,
530
00:25:29,668 --> 00:25:33,501
but toxic fumes
are suffocating the crew.
531
00:25:33,626 --> 00:25:35,710
So when the lookout insists
532
00:25:35,876 --> 00:25:38,876
the guys on the inside continue,
533
00:25:39,001 --> 00:25:41,210
the ringleader loses his cool.
534
00:25:41,335 --> 00:25:43,043
So it all gets a bit tense
between them.
535
00:25:43,168 --> 00:25:46,043
And at one point, which
you can hear on the recording,
536
00:25:46,168 --> 00:25:49,585
Anthony Gavin
actually speaks the name
537
00:25:49,751 --> 00:25:50,876
of the person
who's on the lookout,
538
00:25:51,001 --> 00:25:55,001
which rather gives the game
away as to who was there.
539
00:26:01,418 --> 00:26:02,876
They're all exhausted,
540
00:26:03,043 --> 00:26:05,210
and they realize
the clock is ticking.
541
00:26:05,335 --> 00:26:06,543
But what are they gonna do?
542
00:26:29,543 --> 00:26:31,543
Though Bobby Mills
backs down,
543
00:26:31,710 --> 00:26:34,043
eavesdropper Robert Rowlands
doesn't.
544
00:26:34,043 --> 00:26:36,626
He has
the team's transmissions
545
00:26:36,751 --> 00:26:39,835
captured on tape
and calls Scotland Yard.
546
00:26:39,835 --> 00:26:41,751
They send a couple
of police officers around
547
00:26:41,876 --> 00:26:43,710
to see Robert Rowlands.
548
00:26:43,876 --> 00:26:46,001
And he then plays them
the recording.
549
00:26:46,126 --> 00:26:48,376
And they begin to see
what his point is,
550
00:26:48,376 --> 00:26:50,710
that there appears to be
a robbery going on somewhere,
551
00:26:50,710 --> 00:26:52,001
probably a bank.
552
00:26:52,126 --> 00:26:54,876
So Rowlands, being very
well-versed in ham radio
553
00:26:55,001 --> 00:26:56,668
and realizing
that these robbers
554
00:26:56,668 --> 00:26:58,585
are talking
over walkie talkies,
555
00:26:58,751 --> 00:27:01,001
knows
that it has to be very close.
556
00:27:01,001 --> 00:27:03,126
So he tells this to the
police officers and says,
557
00:27:03,251 --> 00:27:06,501
"Look, you need to check banks
within a one-mile radius."
558
00:27:06,626 --> 00:27:07,876
And they dismiss it.
559
00:27:07,876 --> 00:27:10,210
They say, "Well, you know,
we know what we're doing."
560
00:27:13,376 --> 00:27:16,001
After more than six hours
of radio silence,
561
00:27:16,126 --> 00:27:20,001
the heist team
is broadcasting again.
562
00:27:20,126 --> 00:27:23,126
And this time,
a bigger audience tunes in.
563
00:27:30,168 --> 00:27:32,001
Detectives realize
that zoning in
564
00:27:32,001 --> 00:27:34,043
on the source
of these radio emissions
565
00:27:34,168 --> 00:27:35,710
that are being picked up
by Robert Rowlands
566
00:27:35,710 --> 00:27:37,876
is absolutely vital,
567
00:27:37,876 --> 00:27:40,460
and they think about
what equipment they could use.
568
00:27:40,585 --> 00:27:42,751
There are radio detector vans,
569
00:27:42,876 --> 00:27:46,126
so they try to get hold
of one of these.
570
00:27:46,251 --> 00:27:48,585
When the mobile
radio detective unit
571
00:27:48,751 --> 00:27:50,168
drives through a neighborhood,
572
00:27:50,168 --> 00:27:53,376
police can pinpoint
the source of transmissions
573
00:27:53,376 --> 00:27:55,501
in less than 15 minutes.
574
00:27:55,501 --> 00:27:59,168
Law enforcement calls
this technique fox hunting.
575
00:27:59,293 --> 00:28:03,043
But finding this fox
isn't easy.
576
00:28:03,168 --> 00:28:04,918
They had real trouble
getting hold
577
00:28:05,085 --> 00:28:07,501
of the chap who was
actually driving this thing,
578
00:28:07,626 --> 00:28:09,876
because instead
of being on duty,
579
00:28:10,043 --> 00:28:13,043
he'd gone off with the van
to see his mistress.
580
00:28:14,710 --> 00:28:16,876
It's a huge setback
for the police.
581
00:28:17,001 --> 00:28:20,043
But, of course, it's a
massive boost for the robbers.
582
00:28:21,876 --> 00:28:23,835
The crew isn't even aware
583
00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,668
that this cat and mouse game
is happening.
584
00:28:26,668 --> 00:28:29,085
They're too busy
sorting through the tape
585
00:28:29,251 --> 00:28:33,043
and finding
some unusual items.
586
00:28:33,168 --> 00:28:34,876
In the safety deposit boxes,
587
00:28:35,001 --> 00:28:36,085
people leave
all kinds of things--
588
00:28:36,210 --> 00:28:39,543
valuables, jewels, heirlooms.
589
00:28:39,668 --> 00:28:41,626
But other things that people
keep in safety deposit boxes
590
00:28:41,751 --> 00:28:44,043
are their secrets.
591
00:28:44,210 --> 00:28:45,960
It's not just
legitimate people
592
00:28:46,085 --> 00:28:48,043
who like using
safety deposit boxes
593
00:28:48,043 --> 00:28:49,293
but all sorts of criminals,
594
00:28:49,418 --> 00:28:53,335
so besides lots of cash,
they're also finding drugs.
595
00:28:53,335 --> 00:28:56,835
I was told by people
who were on that robbery
596
00:28:56,835 --> 00:28:59,960
what they did find was
some compromising pictures
597
00:29:00,085 --> 00:29:03,043
of what was
a famous 1970s politician
598
00:29:03,043 --> 00:29:05,126
in a compromising situation.
599
00:29:05,251 --> 00:29:06,543
And they deliberately
left them out
600
00:29:06,710 --> 00:29:09,043
so the police could see them.
601
00:29:15,085 --> 00:29:17,543
While Scotland Yard
checks banks all over town,
602
00:29:17,543 --> 00:29:20,876
Gavin and his men are
cleaning out the Lloyds vault.
603
00:29:21,001 --> 00:29:23,043
They don't realize
the police are
604
00:29:23,168 --> 00:29:26,168
monitoring their communications
and closing in.
605
00:29:26,293 --> 00:29:28,543
Then, the crew
catches another break.
606
00:29:28,710 --> 00:29:30,543
They decide
to change the frequency
607
00:29:30,668 --> 00:29:33,376
on the walkie talkies.
608
00:29:40,626 --> 00:29:42,626
Over.
609
00:29:46,085 --> 00:29:47,876
The robbery is under way.
610
00:29:48,001 --> 00:29:51,918
They only have hours in order
to catch them red-handed.
611
00:29:52,085 --> 00:29:54,710
So the police officers
call the bank managers
612
00:29:54,835 --> 00:29:56,210
of each bank.
613
00:29:56,335 --> 00:29:58,335
They open up.
614
00:29:58,335 --> 00:30:00,876
They take a look,
and then they move on.
615
00:30:01,001 --> 00:30:03,543
Eventually, they actually go
to Lloyds Bank.
616
00:30:10,376 --> 00:30:12,043
They're in the vault.
617
00:30:12,168 --> 00:30:14,460
And then, the lookout says,
"The Old Bill are outside."
618
00:30:14,585 --> 00:30:16,585
That's the police.
619
00:30:16,835 --> 00:30:18,543
Can you imagine?
620
00:30:18,668 --> 00:30:22,043
They're surrounded by jewels
and money and unknown riches,
621
00:30:22,043 --> 00:30:25,210
and the police are right
at the front door.
622
00:30:25,376 --> 00:30:29,001
The police is being let in
by the manager.
623
00:30:29,001 --> 00:30:31,293
And the manager
is letting them through
624
00:30:31,418 --> 00:30:33,293
so they can get down
into the vault.
625
00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:45,835
They're all quiet,
not making the sound.
626
00:30:54,126 --> 00:30:56,376
You could probably
hear their hearts beating
627
00:30:56,501 --> 00:30:58,710
as they're waiting
to see what happens.
628
00:31:12,251 --> 00:31:16,293
It's taken months for the
team to get inside the vault.
629
00:31:16,418 --> 00:31:19,043
And now, intercepted
radio communications
630
00:31:19,168 --> 00:31:21,376
bring the police
right outside it.
631
00:31:23,293 --> 00:31:26,210
Those inside can only wait, wondering,
632
00:31:26,376 --> 00:31:29,293
can the police
smell the dust or the fumes?
633
00:31:29,418 --> 00:31:32,710
Will they be able to get inside
and catch them red-handed?
634
00:31:32,835 --> 00:31:34,335
Can they hear anything?
635
00:31:34,460 --> 00:31:36,918
Will there be any signs
of break-in from the outside?
636
00:31:37,085 --> 00:31:38,876
The police look
at each other.
637
00:31:39,001 --> 00:31:40,710
There's no sign
of any break-in,
638
00:31:40,876 --> 00:31:42,418
as far as they know.
They don't realize
639
00:31:42,543 --> 00:31:44,418
that someone's got in
through the floor.
640
00:31:44,585 --> 00:31:47,126
This is why
it's such an ingenious heist.
641
00:31:47,251 --> 00:31:50,835
The vault is
on a time delay lock.
642
00:31:50,835 --> 00:31:54,126
That means the bank manager
can't actually open the vault.
643
00:31:54,251 --> 00:31:55,710
There's no alarms going off.
644
00:31:55,876 --> 00:31:57,876
There's no damage
to the vault door.
645
00:31:57,876 --> 00:31:59,710
The bank manager
and the police leave.
646
00:31:59,876 --> 00:32:03,210
And they move on to the
next bank to check that one.
647
00:32:03,335 --> 00:32:06,210
Unbelievably, the team
have got away with it.
648
00:32:06,335 --> 00:32:08,918
So the lookout says,
"You're all clear, boys."
649
00:32:10,751 --> 00:32:13,251
So they now get on
with the really crucial stuff,
650
00:32:13,376 --> 00:32:15,668
which is emptying
the safety deposit boxes.
651
00:32:23,501 --> 00:32:26,210
The police visit bank
after bank after bank,
652
00:32:26,335 --> 00:32:28,585
hoping to catch the robbers
red-handed.
653
00:32:28,710 --> 00:32:31,168
But by Sunday evening,
they have no result.
654
00:32:31,168 --> 00:32:33,376
And they're wondering,
on Monday morning,
655
00:32:33,376 --> 00:32:38,001
which bank will open up
to find its been robbed?
656
00:32:38,001 --> 00:32:40,501
After 30 hours
in the vault,
657
00:32:40,626 --> 00:32:42,793
the gang is ready
to make their escape.
658
00:32:42,918 --> 00:32:46,626
But Gavin can't resist
leaving a challenge behind.
659
00:32:46,751 --> 00:32:50,251
He scrolls "let's see
how Sherlock Holmes
660
00:32:50,376 --> 00:32:52,626
solves this one"
on the wall.
661
00:32:52,751 --> 00:32:55,543
Having taken
as much jewelry and money
662
00:32:55,543 --> 00:32:57,960
and everything else
that was in those boxes
663
00:32:58,085 --> 00:33:00,210
as they could manage
in the time that they had,
664
00:33:00,335 --> 00:33:01,751
they cover up their tracks.
665
00:33:01,876 --> 00:33:03,293
They wipe down the equipment
666
00:33:03,418 --> 00:33:04,543
so that
there's no fingerprints
667
00:33:04,668 --> 00:33:07,001
or other evidence
that they could leave.
668
00:33:07,126 --> 00:33:08,335
And it's thought
that they then go
669
00:33:08,460 --> 00:33:10,376
to a North London premises
670
00:33:10,501 --> 00:33:12,876
in order
to divide up the loot.
671
00:33:16,626 --> 00:33:19,418
It's Monday morning,
672
00:33:19,543 --> 00:33:23,710
and bank employees arrive
for work at 10:00 a.m. sharp.
673
00:33:23,710 --> 00:33:25,585
The same Lloyds Bank manager
674
00:33:25,710 --> 00:33:28,793
who reported no problems
the day before
675
00:33:28,918 --> 00:33:31,043
makes his way
to the vault.
676
00:33:31,043 --> 00:33:33,376
The bank manager
and his deputy
677
00:33:33,501 --> 00:33:37,043
go down into the basement,
down into the safety vault.
678
00:33:37,168 --> 00:33:39,376
And they stand
outside the time lock,
679
00:33:39,543 --> 00:33:41,543
wait for it to come to the
point where they can open it.
680
00:33:41,710 --> 00:33:43,710
And click.
681
00:33:45,543 --> 00:33:48,251
And what they see inside,
their jaws drop,
682
00:33:48,418 --> 00:33:50,710
because it's complete mayhem.
683
00:33:50,835 --> 00:33:53,043
All the things
that have been thrown around.
684
00:33:53,043 --> 00:33:55,418
There's all the rubble
from the explosion.
685
00:33:55,543 --> 00:33:58,043
There's bits
of safety deposit box.
686
00:33:58,168 --> 00:34:01,210
And, of course,
they phone the police.
687
00:34:01,376 --> 00:34:03,376
News of the raid breaks.
688
00:34:03,501 --> 00:34:05,376
It's across
all the newspapers,
689
00:34:05,376 --> 00:34:08,543
and it becomes known
as "The Walkie Talkie Heist."
690
00:34:08,710 --> 00:34:13,001
When the story breaks,
there is a media frenzy.
691
00:34:13,126 --> 00:34:14,543
It's quite exciting.
692
00:34:14,710 --> 00:34:16,418
As that happens,
693
00:34:16,585 --> 00:34:19,710
people who had safety
deposit boxes in the vault
694
00:34:19,876 --> 00:34:21,668
start talking
to the police.
695
00:34:21,668 --> 00:34:25,210
And the police begin to learn
how much was stolen.
696
00:34:25,210 --> 00:34:30,668
The number goes up and up
and up by millions.
697
00:34:32,585 --> 00:34:34,168
The clients
who typically rented
698
00:34:34,168 --> 00:34:36,043
the safety deposit boxes
699
00:34:36,210 --> 00:34:39,418
were from the highest end
of British society.
700
00:34:39,585 --> 00:34:41,751
When the story broke,
it was clear
701
00:34:41,918 --> 00:34:45,210
that not everybody wanted to
reveal what was in the boxes.
702
00:34:45,335 --> 00:34:47,960
And that allows all sorts
of conspiracy stories
703
00:34:48,085 --> 00:34:50,043
to begin to circulate.
704
00:34:54,501 --> 00:34:55,918
Not only were they
losing their valuables
705
00:34:56,043 --> 00:34:58,210
but also possible secrets
706
00:34:58,376 --> 00:35:02,293
that could cause them
to be blackmailed over.
707
00:35:02,418 --> 00:35:04,876
Who exactly had secrets there
708
00:35:04,876 --> 00:35:06,876
that are now out
in the public?
709
00:35:06,876 --> 00:35:08,376
Was there
some racy photos there?
710
00:35:08,501 --> 00:35:10,168
Were there some things
that the royal family
711
00:35:10,293 --> 00:35:12,501
wouldn't want to get out?
712
00:35:12,626 --> 00:35:15,710
According to my sources,
they each got--
713
00:35:15,710 --> 00:35:18,126
I mean, it's a lot of money
in the 1970s--
714
00:35:18,251 --> 00:35:20,751
£138,000,
715
00:35:20,876 --> 00:35:23,751
plus about four times
that amount in jewelry.
716
00:35:26,835 --> 00:35:28,710
Police don't need
to be Sherlock Holmes
717
00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:31,376
to figure out the first step
in solving this crime.
718
00:35:31,543 --> 00:35:34,418
It's tracing the tunnel
back here to Le Sac.
719
00:35:34,585 --> 00:35:38,126
But the team scrubbed
this place so clean,
720
00:35:38,251 --> 00:35:40,876
Scotland Yard now has
to do their own digging.
721
00:35:45,418 --> 00:35:47,793
When the police
discovered the robbery,
722
00:35:47,918 --> 00:35:49,543
they realized
that the lease holder
723
00:35:49,710 --> 00:35:52,543
would probably know something
about a 40-foot tunnel
724
00:35:52,668 --> 00:35:55,960
being dug in the basement
of their shop.
725
00:35:56,085 --> 00:35:59,001
Benjamin Wolfe had been
recruited by Anthony Gavin.
726
00:35:59,001 --> 00:36:01,043
It was his role
727
00:36:01,168 --> 00:36:05,210
to secure a premises
near to the bank.
728
00:36:05,210 --> 00:36:09,626
He signed the lease on Le Sac
in his own name.
729
00:36:12,418 --> 00:36:14,335
So the robbery is
a really major embarrassment
730
00:36:14,460 --> 00:36:16,126
for Scotland Yard,
and they got a lot of warning
731
00:36:16,251 --> 00:36:18,543
from Robert Rowlands when
he was listening on the radio.
732
00:36:18,668 --> 00:36:19,918
So they throw everything
they've got in
733
00:36:20,085 --> 00:36:21,835
to try to locate him.
734
00:36:21,835 --> 00:36:24,043
So it's very easy
to trace Benjamin Wolfe
735
00:36:24,168 --> 00:36:26,793
and ask him
what was happening.
736
00:36:33,585 --> 00:36:35,168
After the Baker Street burglars
737
00:36:35,168 --> 00:36:37,251
make off with millions,
738
00:36:37,418 --> 00:36:40,876
Scotland Yard detectives
question Benjamin Wolfe,
739
00:36:41,001 --> 00:36:42,376
the silent partner
740
00:36:42,501 --> 00:36:47,293
who made Gavin's
impossible scheme possible.
741
00:36:49,585 --> 00:36:51,460
When they questioned him,
742
00:36:51,585 --> 00:36:53,460
he claimed
that he just rented the place,
743
00:36:53,585 --> 00:36:56,543
therefore,
and left it empty
744
00:36:56,543 --> 00:36:59,335
and he didn't realize
anybody had been in there.
745
00:36:59,335 --> 00:37:01,085
He stuck to his story.
746
00:37:01,251 --> 00:37:03,251
He was simply
a local businessman.
747
00:37:03,418 --> 00:37:05,918
He was waiting renovations
to happen in his shop.
748
00:37:06,043 --> 00:37:10,001
And at no moment
did he give up the gang.
749
00:37:10,001 --> 00:37:12,876
He was the perfect accomplice.
750
00:37:16,585 --> 00:37:19,668
But they put him
under surveillance.
751
00:37:19,668 --> 00:37:21,376
And that gives them some clues
752
00:37:21,376 --> 00:37:24,001
as to the people
that he is in contact with.
753
00:37:24,126 --> 00:37:26,668
And they start to learn
who he knows.
754
00:37:26,793 --> 00:37:30,210
And the same names
keep coming up.
755
00:37:30,335 --> 00:37:33,085
One of those names
is Anthony Gavin,
756
00:37:33,210 --> 00:37:34,835
whose voice sounds
an awful lot
757
00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:37,626
like the walkie talkie
operator in Le Sac.
758
00:37:37,751 --> 00:37:39,960
We thought we'd come out
with a range of meeting places
759
00:37:40,085 --> 00:37:42,543
for you so that we can go
where we're gonna go.
760
00:37:42,668 --> 00:37:43,918
Sorry about last night, mate.
761
00:37:44,085 --> 00:37:46,168
Within weeks of the heist,
762
00:37:46,293 --> 00:37:49,918
Scotland Yard seems to know
who the ringleader is.
763
00:37:50,043 --> 00:37:51,793
But they're slow to act.
764
00:37:53,501 --> 00:37:55,126
It was so embarrassing.
765
00:37:55,251 --> 00:37:56,668
The home secretary
would've been on
766
00:37:56,668 --> 00:37:58,418
to the commissioner
at Scotland Yard.
767
00:37:58,585 --> 00:38:00,293
"Why haven't you got
these robbers?"
768
00:38:00,418 --> 00:38:02,001
This wasn't
police incompetence.
769
00:38:02,001 --> 00:38:03,710
This was police corruption.
770
00:38:03,876 --> 00:38:06,418
And some individuals
had a lot to gain
771
00:38:06,585 --> 00:38:09,543
by covering up the robbery.
772
00:38:09,543 --> 00:38:12,376
Could the lack of arrests
be caused
773
00:38:12,501 --> 00:38:16,710
by some investigators
blackmailing suspects
774
00:38:16,876 --> 00:38:19,668
to get their own piece
of the pie?
775
00:38:19,668 --> 00:38:22,043
One of the officers that was
in charge of the investigation
776
00:38:22,043 --> 00:38:25,376
was DI Alec Eist.
777
00:38:25,501 --> 00:38:27,710
He was probably the most
corrupt police officer
778
00:38:27,835 --> 00:38:30,418
in the Met
in his time.
779
00:38:30,543 --> 00:38:33,251
Over decades,
it's thought that he protected
780
00:38:33,376 --> 00:38:36,126
some of Britain's
most notorious criminals
781
00:38:36,251 --> 00:38:37,918
for his own personal gain.
782
00:38:38,085 --> 00:38:41,168
Corruption was certainly
a factor in this.
783
00:38:41,168 --> 00:38:44,043
And it turns out to be a factor
in the sentencing.
784
00:38:44,210 --> 00:38:47,876
Some of the robbery teams,
they get arrested.
785
00:38:48,001 --> 00:38:52,710
And it's said that they paid to
get the charges watered down.
786
00:38:52,710 --> 00:38:55,710
But not everyone associated
with the Baker Street job
787
00:38:55,876 --> 00:38:58,043
escapes the consequences.
788
00:38:58,168 --> 00:39:01,335
In late October,
seven weeks after the heist,
789
00:39:01,335 --> 00:39:03,543
the ringleader,
Anthony Gavin,
790
00:39:03,543 --> 00:39:07,376
and Reginald Tucker,
the inside man, are arrested.
791
00:39:07,543 --> 00:39:09,376
Both plead guilty
792
00:39:09,543 --> 00:39:12,251
and are sentenced
to 12 years in prison.
793
00:39:12,376 --> 00:39:15,710
Wolfe goes to trial and loses,
794
00:39:15,835 --> 00:39:19,710
but he only gets eight years
due to his advanced age.
795
00:39:19,835 --> 00:39:21,876
A couple of people
got off completely.
796
00:39:22,001 --> 00:39:23,918
And it's said because
they paid very large sums
797
00:39:24,085 --> 00:39:27,835
in bribery,
they weren't ever charged.
798
00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,835
And one
of the biggest ironies of all,
799
00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:32,543
Mickey Gervaise,
800
00:39:32,543 --> 00:39:35,876
the man hired to avoid
the seismic sensor alarms,
801
00:39:35,876 --> 00:39:37,085
avoids arrest.
802
00:39:37,210 --> 00:39:39,668
Mickey Gervaise,
the alarm specialist,
803
00:39:39,793 --> 00:39:41,585
never got done
for this robbery.
804
00:39:41,710 --> 00:39:44,751
Now whether he paid off police
officers, we don't know.
805
00:39:44,918 --> 00:39:48,668
He's one of the major burglars
and robbers of his time.
806
00:39:48,668 --> 00:39:50,960
He disappeared
about ten years
807
00:39:51,085 --> 00:39:53,210
after he'd been involved
with the Baker Street robbery.
808
00:39:53,335 --> 00:39:55,043
And no one
has ever seen him since.
809
00:39:57,876 --> 00:40:00,668
The mystery that continues
to surround this case
810
00:40:00,793 --> 00:40:03,710
allows
multiple conspiracy theories.
811
00:40:03,876 --> 00:40:06,126
Is this about protecting
the royal family?
812
00:40:06,251 --> 00:40:09,710
Is this police corruption
of the highest order?
813
00:40:09,876 --> 00:40:12,710
All of the documentation
around the investigation
814
00:40:12,835 --> 00:40:14,710
is held
in the National Archives.
815
00:40:14,710 --> 00:40:16,793
It's heavily redacted.
816
00:40:16,918 --> 00:40:20,210
You don't really understand
exactly what happened.
817
00:40:20,335 --> 00:40:24,710
Now, these documents are under
embargo for a hundred years.
818
00:40:24,876 --> 00:40:29,126
They won't be released
until at least 2071.
819
00:40:29,251 --> 00:40:30,585
What's being covered up?
820
00:40:30,710 --> 00:40:33,126
Why is this still
a national secret?
821
00:40:35,460 --> 00:40:38,293
Out there somewhere
is someone who could tell us
822
00:40:38,418 --> 00:40:42,001
exactly what happened
and cut away from the myth
823
00:40:42,126 --> 00:40:43,626
and let us know
824
00:40:43,751 --> 00:40:47,001
what the true story of
the Baker Street robbery was.
825
00:40:49,001 --> 00:40:51,876
This is
a real old school heist.
826
00:40:52,001 --> 00:40:54,168
It's the kind of case
that has been made into film.
827
00:40:54,168 --> 00:40:55,876
It's the kind of case
that's been written about.
828
00:40:56,001 --> 00:40:57,543
It grabs the imagination,
829
00:40:57,668 --> 00:40:59,585
not just because
of the daring,
830
00:40:59,751 --> 00:41:01,876
not just because
of how they did it
831
00:41:01,876 --> 00:41:04,210
and the technical ingenuity
they used,
832
00:41:04,335 --> 00:41:06,335
but also
because there are
833
00:41:06,335 --> 00:41:08,418
so many unanswered questions
even now,
834
00:41:08,543 --> 00:41:12,168
and some won't be answered
until much later this century.
835
00:41:14,085 --> 00:41:17,210
The final tally stolen from
Lloyds Bank on Baker Street
836
00:41:17,210 --> 00:41:18,751
is said to be £8 million.
837
00:41:18,918 --> 00:41:21,793
That's $100 million today.
838
00:41:21,918 --> 00:41:24,126
Only a fraction of it
was ever recovered.
839
00:41:24,251 --> 00:41:26,960
But it's not the record haul
or even the bold planning
840
00:41:27,085 --> 00:41:29,001
that makes the heist memorable.
841
00:41:29,001 --> 00:41:31,918
These criminals
channeled Sherlock Holmes
842
00:41:32,043 --> 00:41:34,668
and played a cat and mouse game
with Scotland Yard
843
00:41:34,793 --> 00:41:39,376
and won in one
of history's greatest heists.
65748
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