Ten Kilograms Of Diamonds Stolen In Belgian Airport Heist

[webfact]

Diamonds stolen in Belgian airport heist

BRUSSELS: -- ARMED men made off with a shipment of diamonds as it was being loaded onto a plane at the Brussels airport, Belgian media report.

newsjsTen kilograms of diamonds with a value of 350 million euros ($A457.28 million) were stolen during the heist late Monday, the broadcaster VRT said, citing unnamed sources.

The thieves broke through a fence at the Belgian capital's main airport with two vehicles at 7:47pm local time, the airport said in a statement.

"The men in the car rode to a Swiss airplane where they stole valuable goods," it said.

"There was no shooting, and no one got injured. This lasted only a few minutes, and after that, they left the airport domain through the damaged fence."

The thieves targeted a van from the Brink's security company that was loading the diamonds on a plane bound for Zurich, media reports said.

A burned vehicle was later found on the outskirts of Brussels with police investigating whether it was one of the getaway cars.

Source: http://www.theaustra...6-1226581383356

-- THE AUSTRALIAN 2013-02-19

[Jane Doe]

This happened a couple of times in the past at BRU. Seems they don't learn.

Edited February 19, 2013 by Jane Doe

[Maestro]

Facebook/Brussels airport (BRU)

9 hours ago

We can confirm that around 19.47h a few men managed to break through the fence at the airport with two cars. The men in the car rode to a Swiss airplane where they stole valuable goods. There was no shooting and no one got injured. This lasted only a few minutes and after that, they left the airport domain through the damaged fence.

The police has started a thorough investigation and the airport police is currently taking all the necessary actions. An on-site investigation is being carried out as part of the judicial inquiry.

The incident had no impact on the continuity of air traffic. The flight concerned has been cancelled.

Source: https://www.facebook...507736572603312

[laurentbkk]

WOW 350 millions Euro value ??????????????

[Maestro]

Helvetic Airways plane robbed in Brussels

Tuesday, 19 February, 2013, 10:07

A Helvetic Airways plane was the scene of an armed robbery in Brussels yesterday.

Gunmen are reported to have attacked staff members on the tarmac before making off with various goods.

Some media outlets report the goods included a chest of diamonds.

No one was hurt in the robbery but the plane didn’t travel to its planned destination of Zurich.

The robbers escaped through a gap in the fence which was broken.

Source: http://worldradio.ch...els.shtml?34676

-- World Radio Switzerland

[jamhar]

dam_n,

that would be a lot for pot

let alone diamonds!

[monty]

In Belgium reported value was more like 50 million US$ (35 million €) Seems like somewhere along the line a 0 got added

Done at the same airport in '95 and 2000...

[Barabbas]

[media]

[/media]

[Samuimike1]

Ask Brink´s

[Steely Dan]

Sounds like an inside job to me, but from first hand knowledge of Belgian police I'm not that surprised the thieves chose there for their plans.

[belg]

wow 14 billion baht richer ... indeed that happend before in belgian... or is it something organised? diamand business is known for not paying any tax in any country...

[mks222]

Should read 50 million US dollars.

1 carat = 0.2 grams, 5,000 ct to a kg => 50,000 ct

1 ct = 1,000 USD (depending on size, quality, if they are cut already, etc)

[Scott]

Won't it be a little difficult to sell them?

[tragickingdom]

Don't know where the info came from but the amount involved is according the Belgian press 37 Million, a tenth of what is published here. Zaventem seems a great airport the third such heist in 12 years. (An inside job)

[monty]

Won't it be a little difficult to sell them?

Apparently uncut diamonds.

So no, not hard to sell, they don't have any certificates yet, untraceable...

[fxe1200]

Good job, didn't hurt the poor.

Edited February 19, 2013 by fxe1200

[bigbamboo]

In Belgium reported value was more like 50 million US$ (35 million €) Seems like somewhere along the line a 0 got added

Done at the same airport in '95 and 2000...

That's what I heard.

Have to admit it was a neat job.

[ExoticMatter]

The wife says she'd like one, is it possible to buy one of these cheap somewhere, should I look on ebay or something, surely the market is going to be flooded, they'll be turning up everywhere

[GentlemanJim]

Should read 50 million US dollars.

1 carat = 0.2 grams, 5,000 ct to a kg => 50,000 ct

1 ct = 1,000 USD (depending on size, quality, if they are cut already, etc)

Don't think you will get a 1 carat diamond for $ 1000 , if you can, can I order 10 please.

So many blood diamonds make it on to the market it would be fairly straight forward to weave these into the system. I am surprised the stones were uncut, normally they go to Belgium to be cut, then to Zurich to be placed in little trinkets. An average two carat stone these days will set you back $8k-$10K and for quality go much much higher. I know its not what these guys will get, but is the value of the product that would be made with them. Ouch !!

The good thing is the robbers didn't whack anyone. Will the movie be the follow on to the Italian Job.

[FritsSikkink]

50 million US$

http://www.guardian....s-airport-plane

The australian changed the value too

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/diamonds-stolen-in-belgian-airport-heist/story-fn3dxix6-1226581383356

Edited February 20, 2013 by FritsSikkink

[simon43]

Years ago I worked for Alcatel Space in Antwerp and used to commute every Friday back to London on a small prop plane. On each occasion, just before the plane was ready to take off from the small Antwerp airport, it would wait at the end of the runway. A van would then drive up and diamonds destined for the London market would be loaded aboard in the hold. The van would remain waiting until the plane had taken off.

This was a weekly occurance. I often thought about the millions of $ in diamonds just feet away from me in the hold - I would pass the journey trying to figure out a foolproof way to steal these rocks!

I never had time to put my master plan into action because my contract with Alcatel ended, but it would have involved a small, radio-controlled robot secreted away in a large box that was being sent to an anonymous mailbox in London .....

Simon

[Scott]

Years ago I worked for Alcatel Space in Antwerp and used to commute every Friday back to London on a small prop plane. On each occasion, just before the plane was ready to take off from the small Antwerp airport, it would wait at the end of the runway. A van would then drive up and diamonds destined for the London market would be loaded aboard in the hold. The van would remain waiting until the plane had taken off.

This was a weekly occurance. I often thought about the millions of $ in diamonds just feet away from me in the hold - I would pass the journey trying to figure out a foolproof way to steal these rocks!

I never had time to put my master plan into action because my contract with Alcatel ended, but it would have involved a small, radio-controlled robot secreted away in a large box that was being sent to an anonymous mailbox in London .....

Simon

And now, Thaivisa Investigators, I think we have our first lead on the Diamond Heist.

[brianP]

Ahhh Diamonds, sold em for many many years,loose and mounted. In the early 2000's when Australia, Canada, Russia and a host of other small places found new large diamond deposits, DeBeers was there to secure the monopoly. The stolen,obviously uncut diamonds will be assimilated into the controlled world supply without a ripple.

The synthetic Diamonds will get better and cheaper and find more technical uses. I personally like the synthetics more than the natural diamond, although a natural can still be lasered, re-bonded, coated, nuked and a host of other embellishments. But a synthetic arrives without need. And a person wearing a lab coat gets paid ,not the scrupulous dealers and other control freaks in charge. No blood on those stones either.

[Puyai]

Has this gang got any job vacancies. Where do I send my C.V.?

[maidu]

Sounds like an inside job to me, ....

I agree.