Thieves steal $5 mn from Lufthansa plane in Brazil

[Kulverstukas]

A group of thieves stole $5 million in cash, which had been due to travel from Brazil to Switzerland aboard a Lufthansa jet, at a large freight airport near Sao Paulo, police said Monday.

The spectacular heist, which took place late Sunday, was completed in a matter of minutes, and authorities have yet to arrest a suspect.

The crooks entered Viracopos International Airport's freight terminal using a pickup on which they had "placed stickers mimicking the runway security company's logo," federal police said in a statement.

Germany-based Lufthansa's plane had been traveling from Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo and was making a stop at Viracopos -- Brazil's biggest freight terminal -- with Zurich as its final destination.

The stolen money had been held under the auspices of secure transport provider Brinks, according to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.

The daily said five men had threatened security agents on the runway before taking off with the cargo, in barely six minutes.

There was no immediate sign of injuries, the airport said.

[vapilot2004]

Last big cash heist at an airport I recall was in 1978, according to the movie, Goodfellas. In 2005, Schipol was the scene of about an $80 million dollar diamond grab. Sometimes these things can go on for years before an arrest is made.

Reputed N.Y. mobster nabbed in 1978 'Goodfellas' airport heist - Reuters - JAN 2014 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lufthansa-heist/reputed-n-y-mobster-nabbed-in-1978-goodfellas-airport-heist-idUSBREA0M0ZM20140123)

More than three decades after $5 million in cash and $1 million in jewelry was stolen from a Lufthansa airlines cargo building at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the FBI arrested Vincent Asaro, an alleged leader of the Bonanno organized crime family, on robbery charges.

Four other men, who prosecutors said were members of the New York-based gang, were arrested for other crimes.

“Vincent Asaro devoted his adult life to the Bonanno crime family, with a criminal career that spanned decades,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch in a statement. “Neither age nor time dimmed Asaro’s ruthless ways, as he continued to order violence to carry out mob business in recent months.”

Asaro pleaded not guilty in a brief appearance at U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, and his attorney said he would fight the charges.

“I got a call from Martin Scorsese,” joked attorney Gerald McMahon, referring to the director of the 1990 movie about the heist. “He wants to do a sequel to ‘Goodfellas’ and it seems that federal prosecutors are providing him with the script.”

http://i63.tinypic.com/1z2djys.png

Amsterdam diamond theft: Seven arrested - BBC JUL 2017 (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38705870)

Five men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a €75m ($80m, £64m) diamond heist in 2005 at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, police in the Netherlands say.
The seven Dutch nationals were arrested in Amsterdam and Valencia in Spain.

The armed gang, disguised as airport workers, stole the diamonds as they were about to be put onto a plane. Some of the diamonds were recovered from a getaway car but stones worth an estimated €40m are still missing. Correspondents say the theft was one of the world's biggest ever jewellery heists.

[Kulverstukas]

Last big cash heist at an airport I recall was in 1978, according to the movie, Goodfellas. In 2005, Schipol was the scene of about an $80 million dollar diamond grab. Sometimes these things can go on for years before an arrest is made.



19.02.2013 Brazen Jewel Robbery at Brussels Airport Nets $50 Million in Diamonds (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/europe/thieves-steal-millions-in-diamonds-at-brussels-airport.html)

[Groundloop]

Is the thread title misleading? Was it actually taken off the aircraft or from the freight terminal before loading?

[Less Hair]

It was robbed when parked on the apron. No crew onboard at the time.

[Kulverstukas]

Is the thread title misleading? Was it actually taken off the aircraft or from the freight terminal before loading?

It's quite unclear from article text. Can be read both ways. Thread title is exact article title.

[rcsa]

The most recent to my knowledge was at OR Tambo in Johannesburg last year - 24m Rand, about 2m USD at the time:

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/how-the-multi-million-rand-heist-unfolded-or-tambo-20170308

OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday revealed how an estimated R24 million was stolen from a container at the airport.

A bakkie pulled up in front of a restricted access gate at 19:23 on Tuesday, according to a statement from the airport.

A white Ford Focus followed the bakkie. Both had sirens on and blue lights flashing. The occupants were several armed men, some of them wearing SAPS uniforms.

“When requested to validate their credentials, the men produced firearms, rounded up security staff in the security checkpoint and ordered them to lie on the floor,” the airport said.

The robbers went to the airside of the airport and took an undisclosed amount of money from a sealed container. No shots were fired and nobody was hurt.

Sources who did not want to be named told News24 on Wednesday that R24 million in foreign currency was removed. The money was destined for the United Kingdom.

[Kulverstukas]

Not much but funny:

Roissy : le SDF qui avait volé deux sacs de billets est parti avec 490 000 euros (http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/roissy-le-sdf-qui-avait-vole-deux-sacs-de-billets-est-parti-avec-490-000-euros-04-01-2018-7482408.php)

[Hotel Tango]

Which all goes to prove that these airport so-called security gates are just one major farce (as if we didn't already know)! They're only good for stopping the odd lost OAP.

[WhatsaLizad?]

Major US airline in the Caribbean, B727 sometime in the 80's or early 90's.


Number one for departure in dark evening, FE tells Captain "Aft Cargo" light illuminate.


Dark area of airport, thieves grabbed over $1,000,000 and zipped off.

[Hotel Tango]

Inside job?

It may well be, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's not all that difficult to force your way air side. There aren't too many gate security guys who are going to argue with guns suddenly pointing at them! With the appropriate uniforms and vehicle(s) the rest is then pretty easy as long as it's executed fairly rapidly.

[Joe_K]

It's quite unclear from article text. Can be read both ways. Thread title is exact article title.

"According to the Federal Police, which has opened up an investigation into the crime, the currency had been placed on the German airline Lufthansa plane at the Guarulhos airport (greater São Paulo).

From there, after a connection to Viracopos, the cargo aircraft was to have flown to Dakar with a final destination set for Frankfurt, Germany, according to Lufthansa.

The robbery took place at 9:40 PM just as the airplane was landing at Viracopos."

From Folha de S.Paulo - Internacional - En - São Paulo - Group Steals US$ 5 Million From Lufthansa Plane in Brazil - 06/03/2018 (http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/saopaulo/2018/03/1959325-group-steals-us-5-million-from-lufthansa-plane-in-brazil.shtml)

[aterpster]

Seems like $5 mil is "chump change" for the risks involved.

[Joe_K]

There aren't too many gate security guys who are going to argue with guns suddenly pointing at them!

And why should they. Brinks will have insurance. The security guys guarding the cash are there to fulfil the terms of the insurance policy (can't leave the cash completely unguarded, otherwise no insurance payout), they're not there to be heroes.

[PAXboy]

Since it hads been loaded at origin and not at this point - someone inside told someone outside. You don't make a smart strike like that on the oft chance of getting cash rather than fruit.

Here are some others for the list (dates may be trial rather than crime):


LHR 2017 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/13/heathrow-heist-security-guard-tied-robbed-7m-classic-inside/

(https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/13/heathrow-heist-security-guard-tied-robbed-7m-classic-inside/)
LHR 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/31/jury-less-trial-guilty-heathrow-robbery

(https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/31/jury-less-trial-guilty-heathrow-robbery)
LHR 2004 BBC NEWS | UK | Heathrow bullion robbers jailed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4252406.stm)

(https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/31/jury-less-trial-guilty-heathrow-robbery)
LHR 2002 https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/12/ukcrime.stevenmorris

So, obviously, all of us should get out of the pax terminal and over to the Cargo:ok: Looking at just four in 15 years, it looks like insider dealing is still thought worth the risk. My cynical guess is that LHR Security have not been given the resources to prevent this.

[Hotel Tango]

And why should they. Brinks will have insurance. The security guys guarding the cash are there to fulfil the terms of the insurance policy (can't leave the cash completely unguarded, otherwise no insurance payout), they're not there to be heroes.

Correct, which proves my point about Security!

[sitigeltfel]

There was an attempted robbery at Marseille a few years ago. Some crooks got through a fence in the small hours and tried to rob a cargo aircraft that had just parked. Unfortunately for them it was empty and as a consolation they nicked the crews wallets and mobile phones.

[Ex Cargo Clown]

I know some classics, 1 1/2 Tonne of Intel processors mysteriously going missing. Mobile phone pallets always dropping onto the apron "accidently". Watches another great target. I always spot that high value stuff never goes missing, it's high volume stuff that vanishes. You just get used to writing Discrep reports when you know what's going on.

[SeenItAll]

Almost all of these big heists are inside jobs. What is the likelihood that a robber attacking at random will hit a compact (which it needs to be in order to remove) multi-million dollar jackpot? Almost certainly there was a tip-off from an insider that X was going to be at location Y at time Z.

[WingNut60]

I know some classics, 1 1/2 Tonne of Intel processors mysteriously going missing. Mobile phone pallets always dropping onto the apron "accidently". Watches another great target. I always spot that high value stuff never goes missing, it's high volume stuff that vanishes. You just get used to writing Discrep reports when you know what's going on.

Continuing a fine tradition established by the wharfies / lumpers / teamsters on the docks many decades (centuries??) ago.

[krismiler]

Definitely agree about it being an inside job. Brazil is notorious for violent crime and it wouldn't be too difficult to persuade or bribe a low paid employee for information.

Not quite as bad as Nigeria where aircraft need an escort to the runway incase they have the cargo holds opened whilst stationary on the taxiway.

Along with laptops and mobile phones, multi blade razor heads are a prime target as well. Small, high value, virtually untraceable, always in demand and easy to sell at markets and car boot sales.

[WhatsaLizad?]

Once in awhile, I'll ask the other pilot to look outside at the bustling ramp/cargo operations at MIA and ask him what he sees. Obviously they know something is coming.


I then tell them they are looking at the most successful Pirates in the 500 year history of the Caribbean. They can make decent money, health care, retirement, sick leave and free airline travel.


In the late 90's there was a good long expose on the illicit activities of those working the MIA ramp. Smuggling, theft, payoffs, bribery, you name it. It wasn't rare for people to simply disappear.


They noted in the article that even the Colombian Drug Cartels looked upon the MIA rampers as disreputable criminals that were difficult to do business with.


And this in a 1st world country. (Or at least a 3rd world group that thinks their area is in the 1st world) :E

[Ex Cargo Clown]

Worst thing we ever did was to teach the sheddies how to get to a manifest. Outbound pre-manifests are like a shopping list, as for inbound one's all bets are off. Just like all walks of life if there is an opportunity to be had people will take it.

[Heathrow Harry]

"Continuing a fine tradition established by the wharfies / lumpers / teamsters on the docks many decades (centuries??) ago"

or at Theifrow from 1960 onwards........

remember the fights hat broke out when T5 opened as to which handlers (ex T1 and ex T3) got to "handle" the high value luggage from places like Nice and Bermuda??

[Noobyflewby]

Reminds me of the time BA World Cargo were handling a pallet of bullion at Heathrow with each of the several dozen ingots worth about £250,000 apiece if I recall correctly.


One of the ingots went missing during transhipment through the old cargo sheds and, despite lots of searching and numerous theories, it wasn't found and the insurers paid out.


Needless to say it was seen as an inside job and left a bad taste in many mouths as a result.


Some months later one of the senior managers was walking through the aforementioned cargo shed and noticed something dusty and dirty propping open a door.


When he went to move it he was a tad surprised at the weight and, upon rubbing it like the genie's bottle, discovered one lost ingot!


Now whether it was waiting in open sight for an appropriate opportunity to get it off site, or whether it really was just something conveniently found one day to prop that door open, no one will ever know.

[WHBM]

My cynical guess is that LHR Security have not been given the resources to prevent this.
Typically because the shipper chooses the lowest overall quotation for the transit.