I saw a TV show about that robbery in Nice, France. (It was one of those “Great Crimes” type shows.) Once they had gotten inside the vault, the robbers welded the vault door shut from the inside. At one point, the bank officials were standing outside the vault, trying to figure out why the hell they couldn’t get the door open, while the robbers were cleaning out boxes inside. The robbers also ate their dinner on gold plates that they found in one of the boxes. You’ve gotta admit, those guys had style.
I know we have cat burglars here in Chicago. They were the guys that specialized in climbing up the high rise apartment and condo buildings. The thing that makes them “cat burglars” is that they come in your house while you’re sleeping. This would be opposed to your standard “break and enter when you’re not home type”, or your far more violent “home invasion type”. I don’t know about the sophisticated Thomas Crown style thieves, but as for asking if there are cat burglars, sure. Ask any big city cop.
You’re right about welding the door shut, but I’m nearly 100% certain that the crooks were long gone by the time the bank opened the next morning.
Oh, and if you enjoy reading about the exploits of fictional burglars, may I recommend Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, all of whose titles start with “The Burglar Who…” Half a dozen or so amusing and witty stories featuring a used book seller who augments his income by burglarizing rich people. And somehow every single time he’s unjustly accused of a murder and has to help the police catch the real killer. They’re fun and nowhere near as dark as Block’s Matthew Scudder stories. (But whatever you do, don’t watch the Whoopi Goldberg film, Burglar, which is based on the series. It’s hideous.)
I love those books=)
I have a ‘cat burglar’ in my home…one of my cats loves chewing on the earpieces of my glasses, erasers on pencils, things like that. If i am not careful he will drag them off under the sofa and stash them for later nibble-fests=)
You’re right that they welded the door, but I’m nearly 100% certain that they were long gone before the bank opened the next morning. (I saw that show, too.)
Oh, and if anyone here would enjoy reading about the exploits of a fictional burglar, I recommend Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, all of whose titles start with “The Burglar Who…” About half a dozen light and witty stories about a used book seller who augments his income by occasionally burglarzing rich (and deserving) people. And somehow every single time he gets unjustly accused of a murder and has to help the police find the real killer to clear his name. They’re amusing and nowhere near as dark as Block’s Matthew Scudder stories.
(Whatever you do, don’t watch the Whoopi Goldberg film, Burglar, which is based on the series. It’s hideous.)