the heist of the century

the heist of the century by ric gustafson


On Aug 8 1963, twelve men robbed a Glasgow to London Royal Mail train. The men switched the signals and made the driver stop in the darkness. The robbery netted the men 125 sacks of banknotes worth more than 50 million today.
Ronnie Biggs was caught and jailed. He escaped from a London prison and his running from the law became a media sensation. He turned into a British folk hero. To escape British justice, Biggs moved to Brazil.
In 2001, he returned to England and was sentenced to thirty years. 15 months into his sentence he escaped from London's Wandsworth Prison. He fled to France, Australia and Panama. He spent thirty years in Brazil making a living from his notoriety. He died recently at the age of 84.


research help: an Omaha World Herald article


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric