What makes someone risk it all to steal a priceless diamond or a rare gem? Jewel thieves amaze us with their famous bold heists and clever plans. Breaking into secure vaults or slipping out with millions in jewels, their stories seem straight out of Hollywood blockbusters, despite being real.
Table of Contents
Sharing a glimpse here of the most renowned thieves and their enthralling heists.
1. The Pink Panthers – The Top Jewel Thief
The Pink Panthers is an international organization of robbers that have existed in the modern era. This Balkan-based group is linked to over €334 million in thefts. As a consequence of their notorious burglaries, Pink Panthers have left a lasting impression on crime histories.
Since the year 1999, the gang has stolen jewelry worth €334 million over 380 robberies covering 35 countries. In 2004, they robbed $30 million worth of jewels from a Tokyo shop, making it Japan’s largest jewelry theft.
2. Bill Mason
Bill Mason is an American jewel thief. In his 2004 autobiography, “Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief”, where he admits that he recounts his methods and mentioned that he has stolen property worth $35,000,000 from the private residences and hotel rooms. His targets were Phyllis Diller, Johnny Weissmuller and Armand Hammer.
In 2007, the second story on the episode “Religious Prey: Greater Ministries Int’l / It Takes a Thief“, of the television series American Greed, covered his confessions and story, along with detailed interviews with Mason himself.
3. Jack Roland Murphy (“Murph the Surf”)
Jack Roland Murphy named himself “Murph the Surf“. He gave this name himself, as he was a surfer and musician, later became an infamous criminal.
At New York’s American Museum of Natural History in the year 1964, he stole a 563-carat sapphire (Star of India).
During that time period, Jack was in link to several other crimes. By 1967, he received a life sentence for murder, followed by another life sentence in 1970 for murdering someone.
4. N. William Nesbit
N. William Nesbit was a 1930s jewel thief, born in Marshalltown, Iowa. In December 1936, thief Harold Baker was killed by him in a gunpowder explosion in Minnehaha County, South Dakota near Sioux Falls. He was arrested in 1937, later convicted on May 28, 1937 to life imprisonment. Furthermore, on 18 February 1946, he commuted to 20 years incarceration.
By March 1950, he appeared in the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives list. He then got arrested in Saint Paul, Minnesota. On August 6, 1983, in Sioux City, he died due to a prolonged illness.
If you have interest to get detail information about Nesbit’s criminal activities and his eventual capture, then you can refer to his profile available on Murderpedia.
5. Leonardo Notarbartolo
The mastermind behind the largest diamond thefts in Antwerp Diamond Heist, was none other than the Italian Heist artist named as Leonardo Notarbartolo. He perform the robbery along with the help of his team, they rob into through bypassing the multiple layers of security. Eventually, walking away with diamonds of millions worth.
By 2005, Notarbartolo was sentenced to be imprisoned for 10 years by the court of appeal of Antwerp for being accused of the heist. Later, in 2009, he releases on parole. But, he again got arrested in 2013 for breaching the conditions of parole, while serving the rest of his sentence till 2017.
Despite being under arrest and conviction by the FBI, Notarbartolo and some of his accomplices. the majority of the stolen diamonds were consider recoverable, adding to the intrigue and mystery surrounding the heist.
Related Pick: Arthur Barry – A Jewel Thief who became a Status Symbol!
For a in-depth account of the heist and Notarbartolo’s role, the book “Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History” by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell provides a more detailed exploration.
6. Doris Payne
Doris Payne was an American Convicted Jewel thief who charmingly robbed into jewelry stores. The robbing was of millions of worthy jewels with a career spreading over six decades.
In the 1970s, Payne gained popularity in Monte Carlo for stealing a 10-carat diamond ring. The 10-carat diamond ring was worth $500,000. Although, she has an extensive criminal history, yet evaded lengthy prison sentences, and later becoming a cultural icon.
A documentary based on her life, entitled ‘The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne (2013)‘, showcasing the details about many of her crimes. It covers the details ranging from the earliest burglaries in her youth till age 80.
7. Vincenzo Pipino
Vincenzo Pipino was an expert in art and jewelry heists. He became the first thief to steal a painting from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, using his deep knowledge of Venice’s canals and architecture aided his criminal endeavors.
During his lifetime, he has committed over 3,000 thefts at museums, galleries, banks, and private residences, 50 thefts of jewelry shops, and stolen thousands of kilograms of gold throughout Europe.
8. Gerald Blanchard
Gerald Blanchard was from Canada having a criminal mastermind and orchestrated complex heists across three continents. Later, earned a reputation as one of the world’s most famous jewel thieves.
In 1998, Blanchard executed a daring heist at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace, stealing the “Star of Empress Sisi“, a diamond and pearl hair ornament belonging to Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria. He replaced the jewel with a replica, a deception that went unnoticed for two weeks.
In 2023, Blanchard became the subject of the Hulu documentary called The Jewel Thief. This documentary is based on his entire criminal career and his heists ranging from shoplifting to the theft of a royal crown jewel. Gerald Blanchard’s story is a striking example of cunningness in the crime world.
Blanchard’s criminal activities extended beyond jewel thefts. He was involved in numerous frauds and heists, demonstrating a high level of technical expertise and meticulous planning.
9. Larry Lawton
There was a time when Larry was America’s most famous jewel thieves, who committed multiple jewelry heists along the Atlantic Seaboard. He got arrested by the year 1996 and prisoned for 11 years in federal prison. Therefore, deciding to reform his life.
Larry Lawton is now a motivational speaker, author, and advocate for prison reform. His autobiography, Gangster Redemption, co-written with Peter Golenbock, shares his transformation from a life of crime to one of purpose and change.
10. The De Beers Robbery Gang
A robbery gang known as De Beers Robbery Gang attempted a heist in 2000, at London’s Millennium Dome. They targeted the exhibition of De Beers diamond. The motive was to steal a flawless 203.04-carat diamond (Millennium Star), valuing £200 million, along with blue diamonds.
The most daring heists done by this gang was at De Beers’ diamond facility. Their precision and coordination made this robbery a standout case in the history of jewel thefts. This was one of the notable robberies of diamonds.
Conclusion
The subject of jewel theft is both intriguing and illegal. The individuals and groups mentioned here have left an impression on criminal history. The daring exploits of these famous jewel thieves have inspired countless books and films keeping their stories alive, their heists remind us of the need to protect our treasures. Each story is a mix of brilliance and risk, showing how greed and ambition can drive people to extraordinary extremes.
