Prosecutors say jewel heist was largest in British history

Source: AP

LONDON (AP) — A prosecutor said Monday that an Easter weekend break-in to a vault in London's Hatton Garden diamond district was the largest burglary in English legal history, with a haul estimated at 14 million pounds ($21 million).

Prosecutor Philip Evans said a "very substantial quantity of gold, jewelry, precious stones, cash and other items" were stolen from the basement vault over the holiday weekend.

He said the gang used sophisticated methods and meticulous planning to drill into the wall of the vault before ransacking 73 safe-deposit boxes.

Four men said to be ringleaders have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Four others are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court accused of involvement in the high-profile theft.

FULL story at link.


This is a an undated image made available on Wednesday April 22, 2015 by the Metropolitan Police of the hole leading into the vault at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit company which was robbed over the Easter weekend. A prosecutor said Monday Nov. 23, 2015 that the Easter weekend heist in London's Hatton Garden diamond district was the largest burglary in English legal history. The haul was worth an estimated 14 million pounds ($21 million). Prosecutors said Monday the thieves used "sophisticated" methods and meticulous planning to drill into the wall of a vault in the jewelry district before ransacking 73 safe-deposit boxes. (Metropolitan Police via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a6e20a199d0b4f0dbe3facb07bca6c50/prosecutors-say-jewel-raid-was-largest-british-history