This Day In History

22 February: Biggest Robbery Ever!

It was a lengthy and rigorous operation.

The previous night at 18:30 the manager of the depot, Colin Dixon, was abducted from his vehicle by men pretending to be plain-clothes policemen and transferred to a farm in Staplehurst, Kent.

His wife and eight-year-old son, after also falling for the advances of “plain-clothes” coppers, had been held hostage at their home until Dixon was apprehended, and were then also transferred to the farm.

Once congregated at the farm, it was made clear in no uncertain terms what would become of the family should Mr Dixon not comply with the gang’s wishes.

They were all taken to the depot at around 01:00, where a further 14 members of staff were bound and gagged at gunpoint. The robbery was concluded at around 02:45am when the staff were all locked in cash cages. Dixon’s eight-year-old son escaped through the bars, freed the captives and then alarm was raised.

Hostages were distraught but physically unscathed. None of the used notes have ever been traced.

And let us remind you of the figure stolen once again: £53,116,760. That's some endgame.