Gold has long been a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and its high value has made it a target for theft throughout history. In recent years, there have been several high-profile thefts of gold bullion that have resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of gold being stolen.
Here are five of the biggest gold heists of the last 50 years…
Brink’s-MAT robbery (1983)
The Brink’s-MAT robbery is considered one of the largest gold heists in history. In November 1983, a gang of robbers, including some Brink’s-MAT employees, stole approximately 6,800 gold bars weighing over 26 tons from a vault at Heathrow Airport in London.
The value of the gold at the time was estimated to be a whopping £26 million, or roughly $38 million. However, due to subsequent increases in the price of gold, the stolen gold’s current value is estimated to be over $1 billion. The robbers were eventually caught and sentenced to long prison terms.
Bank of Nova Scotia heist (1984)
In 1984, a group of thieves broke into the Bank of Nova Scotia’s gold vault in Montreal, Canada, and made off with 3,000 gold bars weighing 5,000 kilograms.
The value of the gold at the time was estimated to be around $30 million, but the thieves were never caught, and the whereabouts of the stolen gold remains a mystery.
Dar Es Salaam bank robbery (2008)
In 2008, armed robbers stole approximately $282 million worth of gold and cash from the Dar Es Salaam bank in Baghdad, Iraq. The robbers reportedly spent two hours breaking into the bank’s vaults and made off with 7,000 gold bars weighing over 200 tons.
The heist was carried out during the height of the Iraq War and was believed to have been perpetrated by insiders with knowledge of the bank’s security protocols.
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin heist (2015)
In March 2017, thieves stole 5,600 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins worth approximately $6 million from the Berlin Bode Museum in Germany. The robbers used a ladder to break into the museum through a window and escaped with the coins undetected. The coins have not been recovered, and the thieves remain at large.
Curacao heist (2012)
In 2012, a group of robbers stole 70 gold bars worth approximately $70 million from a warehouse in Curacao. The robbers gained access to the warehouse by disguising themselves as police officers and tied up the security guards before making off with the gold. The stolen gold has not been recovered, and the robbers were never caught.
These are just a few examples of the largest gold heists in recent history. While gold bullion is often seen as a safe investment, it can be a target for theft due to its high value and the relative ease with which it can be transported and sold on the black market.
As a result, it is important for investors to take steps to protect their gold investments, such as storing their gold in secure facilities or using insured transportation services.
One way to mitigate the risk of gold theft is to invest in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or gold mining stocks rather than physical gold bullion. These investments allow investors to gain exposure to the price of gold without actually owning physical gold, which reduces the risk of theft.
However, investing in physical gold bullion has several advantages, such as having a tangible asset that can be held outside of the financial system and potentially acting as a hedge against inflation.
Investors who choose to invest in physical gold should take steps to protect their gold.
