Fifty years ago | Biggest bank robbery in French city
This archival piece recounts the 1976 'heist of the century' in Nice, France, where thieves tunneled into a bank vault to steal 50 million francs. The gang left behind a note advocating for peace and successfully evaded capture after a weekend-long operation.
Why it matters
It serves as a historical retrospective on one of the most sophisticated and famous criminal operations of the 20th century.
Nice, France, July 21: Hundreds of agitated clients besieged a bank here yesterday to find out if they were among the victims of the biggest robbery in history.
At least 50 million francs (₹9 crores) were spirited away from the bank during a weekend operation carried out with military precision by a gang who got clean away.
The thieves dug a tunnel eight metres long into the strongroom of the bank, where they rifled 200 deposit boxes containing money, securities, jewels and gold.
Behind them the thieves left a note saying, “No shots, no violence, no hatred” and bearing the international peace sign.
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