• Sweden edition

Helicopter heist hits global top ten list

Published: 5 Oct 09 11:05 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22468/20091005/

September's helicopter cash depot heist in Stockholm qualifies as one of the ten most spectacular heists of all time, according to a new list published by Time magazine.

The website of the high circulation US weekly likens the audacious chopper-borne smash and grab to a scene from Mission Impossible.

"Just before sunrise on Sept. 23, the burglars arrived on the rooftop of the GS4 cash depot, smashed the glass roof, detonated their way to the building's vault, and hoisted themselves — and the bags of money they made off with — back up to the helicopter," writes Time.

The magazine also notes that the robbers were brazen enough to create a decoy using a bag labeled with the word 'BOMB'.

The Västberga cash depot heist comes in at number ten on Time's list, which is topped by the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 (see below for full list).

Professor of criminology Leif G W Persson does not think the helicopter heist merits its place among history's most spectacular.

"It's certainly quite unique for Scandinavia with all the logistics involved and everything. But no, I don't think so," he told newspaper Aftonbladet.

External link: Time magazine's top ten heists »

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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11:25 October 5, 2009 by rrabbit
Professor of criminology Leif G W Persson does not think the helicopter heist merits its place among history's most spectacular.

"It's certainly quite unique for Scandinavia with all the logistics involved and everything. But no, I don't think so," he

lol who cares
11:35 October 5, 2009 by Hauhr
If this event is to be one of the top 10 then I guess there will have to be a movie about it. Hollywood would of course have to adapt the story slightly. The robbers would have to be ex-marines who have been falsely accused of treason and have broken out of a maximum security facility to pull this off. And they are not actually after the money, only a mythical stone which holds the answer and will prove their innocence. One of the gang is terminally ill due to a battle wound and the money will be used to pay for an experimental miracle cure.
12:12 October 5, 2009 by peropaco
@Hauhr; I think that movie is called The Rock and Dog day afternoon blended in one ;-)= Title. Rock the afternoon dog?
18:43 October 5, 2009 by Thompsuleme
Of course it merits its place!In this day and age, to plan such and succeed making it look so easy when a single wrong move could blow it up.Well done mates.I hope they are somewhere sipping some tequilla with their beautiful women(an island i presume) and enjoying better weather than we have here now.(thats how it ends in the movies) :)

I hate thieves but we got to admit....these guys were super cool and ill be the first to buy a ticket to the movies if they make one about this.
18:49 October 5, 2009 by spy
Oceans 15!
19:44 October 5, 2009 by Atlas
Doesn't anyone see another movie with heist, this time in Sweden!!!
21:43 October 5, 2009 by hfvikingarna
It is not because that the robbers are smart but the stupid and unprofessional Swedish police. It is a big big question mark about the competence of the Swedish police.
12:35 October 6, 2009 by DamnImmigrant
Common, this was a brilliant, non-violent robbery!

I think the government should grant amnesty to the robbers and let them keep the money, have them tell how it went down in absolute detail and then the movie rights belong to the government!

Better than putting them in jail for 2 years.
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