13 Real-Life Bank Robberies That Make Movie Plots Look Tame
Some robberies are messy acts of desperation. But these heists were planned with methodical precision, carried out by crews who knew exactly what they were doing. Millions in cash and valuables were taken in bold moves involving tunnels, explosives, insider help, and occasionally, nothing more than a convincing story.
Stay tuned for the final entry. It’s the largest bank theft ever recorded, and it involves a dictator and nearly a billion dollars in cash.
Manhattan Savings Institution Robbery (1878)
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Led by George Leslie, a gang of professional burglars stole $2.7 million from a New York City bank—an astronomical sum in 1878. Leslie, an architect turned thief, planned the operation in detail but was murdered before the heist. His crew pulled it off using copied keys and insider help. Much of the money was recovered.
Baker Street Robbery (1971)
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“We’re in the vault. It’s all go.” That’s the message intercepted by a ham radio operator who accidentally tuned into one of the most British heists ever pulled off. In London, thieves tunneled into the vault of Lloyds Bank from a rented shop two doors down. Over a weekend, they reached the floor, cracked deposit boxes, and vanished with valuables worth up to £3 million. The break-in was so carefully executed that it wasn’t discovered until Monday morning.
British Bank of the Middle East Robbery (1976)
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While Beirut was deep in civil war, one crew saw an opportunity. Using explosives (and an inconveniently located church wall), they blasted into the British Bank of the Middle East. Locksmiths helped open vaults while chaos reigned outside. The two-day spree ended with $44.5 million in cash, gold, and stocks missing, and no one ever charged.
United California Bank Heist (1972)
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Amil Dinsio and crew believed Nixon had a secret slush fund stashed in a California bank. So they blew up the vault, grabbed $30 million, and almost got away with it—until someone left fingerprints on a dishwasher in the rental hideout. Oops.
Seafirst Bank Robbery (1997)
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Ray Bowman and Billy Kirkpatrick walked into a Seattle bank dressed like they’d stepped off a noir film set. With automatic weapons and chilling precision, they emptied the vault and made off with $4.4 million. The FBI called them the “Trenchcoat Robbers.” Their precision and calm earned them a long run, but their record of similar heists across the U.S. eventually caught up to them.
Commonwealth Bank Robbery, Sydney (1984)
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A group of masked men stormed the George Street branch, made the staff open the vault, and walked out with over AUD 1 million. No tunnels or costumes were involved. It sparked a massive security overhaul across Australia.
Société Générale Heist, Nice (1976)
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Albert Spaggiari’s crew spent months tunneling from the sewer system into the vaults of Société Générale. On a quiet weekend, they crept in, cracked over 400 boxes, and left behind this message: “Without weapons, nor hatred, nor violence.” Their poetic exit couldn’t save them from eventual capture, but some of the loot was never seen again.
300 Million Yen Robbery, Tokyo (1968)
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A man impersonating a police officer stopped a bank car transporting bonuses for Toshiba employees, claiming it was rigged with explosives. He convinced the bank employees to evacuate the vehicle, then drove off with 294 million yen. Despite extensive investigations, the case remains unsolved and is one of Japan’s most infamous heists.
Bank of France Robbery, Saint-Nazaire (1986)
Credit: BBC
Heavily armed robbers raided the Saint-Nazaire branch of the Bank of France and stole €11 million. They held employees at gunpoint and escaped before authorities arrived. Although some were later arrested, much of the money disappeared.
Banco Río Heist, Argentina (2006)
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In Buenos Aires, robbers disguised as hostage-takers stormed Banco Río and stalled police negotiations. While police surrounded the bank, the crew escaped through a tunnel to a nearby building, having emptied over 100 safety deposit boxes. A note left behind said, “It’s not love, it’s just money.”
Northern Bank Robbery, Belfast (2004)
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Two executives’ families were held overnight while the robbers coerced them into unlocking vaults the next day. The gang loaded £26.5 million into vans and disappeared. Although suspects were later linked to paramilitary groups, the heist remains officially unsolved, and most of the money is still missing.
Knightsbridge Safe Deposit Centre Heist (1987)
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Italian playboy Valerio Viccei posed as a potential client, then overpowered the staff and brought in his crew. They emptied hundreds of boxes, making off with $97 million. The catch? Viccei was arrested trying to ship his Ferrari to South America. He was charming, but not that smart.
Banco Central Burglary, Brazil (2005)
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A gang posing as landscapers rented a house near Banco Central in Fortaleza and spent three months tunneling 256 feet to the vault. Over a weekend, they removed $71.6 million in used notes. Despite a high-profile investigation and several arrests, only a fraction of the money was ever found.
Dar Es Salaam Bank Heist, Baghdad (2007)
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In Baghdad, insiders at Dar Es Salaam Bank stole $282 million in cash. The robbers, who were reportedly security guards, walked out undetected, likely aided by connections with local militias. No charges were ever filed. The cash, in U.S. dollars, simply disappeared into the fog of post-war corruption.
Central Bank of Iraq Robbery (2003)
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This heist was no covert operation. The day before the U.S. invasion, Saddam Hussein sent his son Qusay with a handwritten order to withdraw $920 million in cash from the Central Bank of Iraq. Trucks hauled it away. Later, U.S. troops recovered some of it, though not all of it legally. Over 30 soldiers were convicted of skimming stacks for themselves.