Heist Podcast

THE TURKEY HEIST  Simon and Matt discuss how they would pull of the perfect heist based on everything they've learned on the pod. Target date Thanksgiving. Long weekend, most businesses are shut down. Lots of money in the bank.  Target - A bank in the Hamptons. A bank that has safety security boxes and caters to rich people. Find a location where we can use the sewer system to cut down on tunneling and hide your tracks. Here is a play-by-play of how we would pull off the perfect heist.   

Let's talk about the set piece of almost every heist, the bank vault. As long as humans have had money, they've looked for ways to protect it.  

Alright, it's time to delve into the granddaddy of all bank vaults. The gold-plated epitome of secure stashes. A place so impervious that its name has become synonymous with ultimate security. We're talking about the indomitable Fort Knox, my friends. So, just how secure is this fortress of solitude? The answer is: mind-bogglingly so.  

Greetings, fellow heist enthusiasts! We're Matt and Simon, the hosts, producers, and writers of the thrilling Heist Podcast “All the fun of true crime without the murder!” If you've never heard of us, check out the pod, and if you have, what's up Heist Nation?!  This book is a treasure trove of all the tasty heist knowledge we've acquired over the past five years, covering more than 200 cases. Consider it an info dump of fascinating insights and jaw-dropping facts about all things Heist. BINGO BANGO Let's get in to it.  HHHEEEIIISSST!  

Okay, so in the last chapter, we focused on the basics; now, we want to move on to the more advanced techniques of heisting. We can't talk about advanced techniques without mentioning one of the earliest and most remarkable devices we've ever encountered.  THE LITTLE JOKER - this is a tool we've discussed extensively on Heist Podcast because it's so damn cool. It's not known exactly who invented this nifty gizmo, but we do know that it was made famous by the Godfather of Bank Heisters, George Leonidas Leslie. In post-civil war, NYC, G.L.L. used the Little Loker to pull off some of the biggest heists in history. Including the Manhattan Savings Institution robbery of 1878 which won him and his crew the title of MOST MONEY EVER STOLEN. $2.5 million dollars, calculating for inflation that's approximately* $77,000,000!  

If you've managed to pull off a successful heist and now find yourself in possession of a sizable haul, your next moves are crucial. Think of it as going through a rough break up — you need to lay low, be patient, and let things cool off. Law enforcement will undoubtedly be on high alert, searching for any leads or signs of unusual activity.  

We hope you enjoyed our in-depth, deep dive into the world of heisting. We've learned a lot. Really goes to show just how hard it is to be a heister. Check out our podcast.   

Matt and Sie are back with a mini episode full of Heist Podcast news and updates. We're excited to introduce Heist This Book — a special project we created just for Heist Nation. If you missed it when it first dropped, we're bringing it to you now, ad-free as always. Huge thanks to everyone who supported us by grabbing it earlier. Give the audiobook a listen — it's a blast. HEEEIISSST!

In celebration of our new audio book, HEIST THIS BOOK, we decided to dust off the ol' mics and record a special mini-episode.  We've missed you, Heist Nation so we wanted to drop in, scream "HEEEEEIST" cover some Heist News and leave you with a little teaser of our new audio book.  Check it out! HEIST THIS BOOK - CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY BINGO BANGO! A HEIST PODCAST AUDIO BOOK! HEEEEIIISST! Hello Heist Nation! I'm Simon and I'm Matt! Long time no heeeeeist! We got a little hankering for some heistering and so we put together an audiobook all about heists! Its dives deep into everything heist, an info dump of all the cool stuff we learned over the years. Five Chapters Vaults Advanced Heist Techniques Fort Knox Getting away with it / Aftermath The Turkey Heist Chapter 5 is something special you've all been asking for! A PLAY-BY-PLAY OF HOW WE WOULD PULL OFF AN OCEAN'S 11-STYLE BANK JOB, BASED ON EVERYTHING WE LEARNED FROM 200 EPISODES OF THE POD BABY! We know you're going to love it because we almost died laughing while making it. We worked really hard on this audiobook. And can't wait to share it with all of you at Heist Nation. Love you, miss you XOXO HEEEEIIIIIIST!!!!!!

We did it, we got to episode two hundred! if you've been following along then you know that this will be our last episode, at least for a while. So in celebration of heist nation and all its glory, we decided to spend our final episode just wax'n about good ol' times, answer some Q's and maybe even peek behind the curtain of the making of Heist Podcast. Thank you everyone for sending in your love, confessions and questions. Don't unsubscribe because, well...who knows what the future holds, love you all. HHHHEEEIIISSSTT!!!

For our pen-ultimate episode we go back to where it all began, Albert Spaggiari the man who pulled off a true, made for Hollywood, right out of a blockbuster screenplay, heist. He was the topic of our very first episode so we figured it would be fun to go back and cover it again with all the things we know now. This is the second last episode of Heist podcast so shout out to Heist Nation. HHHEEEIIISSST!

You asked for it, we're finally doing it. It's time to cover D.B. Cooper and jump in to the theories of what we think may have happened during America's first and only unsolved skyjacking. Matt has a theory that MAY just open this case up all over again. HEEEIIISST  

In part two of the John Dillinger special we pick up right when the Dillinger Gang have all broken out of jail and gear up to go on the robbing spree that made them famous. Also we discuss the controversy behind Dillinger's death, did the FBI fake the whole thing? Put on your tin foil hat, it's time to HEEEIIISSTT!

We are finally doing it, an episode all about John Dillinger, this guy was way crazier than we ever expected, not only was he and his gang the most prolific bank robbers in American history, his background and how it all came together is wildly fascinating. Also we talk openly about a the future of Heist Podcast. Check it out. HEEEIIISSST!! 

We hop into the time machine and cover Herman Lamm, a pioneer in the heist industry. Every heard of the term "Going on the Lamm" Yeah that's Herman, he invented it, he also kind of invented casing banks, mapping out getaways and timing the robbery. Point Break and many other heist films owe credit to Herman and his heisting ways. Check it out! HEEEIIISSSTT!

Today we cover Stephane Beitwieser and  Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus a couple that loved art so much they spent six years grabbing everything they could from Galleries, Museums and Art Fairs all over Europe, the crazy part is they never tried to sell a single piece. 

Today we tell the story of Emmanuel Nwude a crazy schemer that sold a Nigerian airport that didn't exist to a bank in Brazil. It's a tale that really puts a spotlight on corruption in Nigeria and Brazil in the 90s. HEEIISST!

It's a spooky, ghoul and ghost filled episode of Heist podcast. Okay, maybe it's not technically spooky but it's a great heist that goes down on Halloween. Do you like Bonnie and Clyde, dangerous lovers on the run, stories? Well this is the episode for you. Craig Pritchert and Nova Guthrie robbed banks across the states and lived a hot and heavy, wild love-life spending their time between robberies traveling the world, and (we're assuming) doing it on hotel beds covered in cash because well, if you're dangerous lovers on the run, that's just what you do. Check it out!

A Homecoming queen, a Super cop and Bert. Today we tell the tale of the biggest bank robbery in San Antonio. It all went down at a drive-thru bank, a fact that made the whole thing a little....stinky. Was it an inside job? Find out now. HEEEIIISST!

Today we cover the story of Dennis Nikrasch, an extremely skilled locksmith that worked as a safe cracker for the mob as a teenager then took his skills to Vegas where him manipulated slot machines to pump out sweet, sweet jackpots milking more than $7 million with out the casino even knowing they were being robbed. Dennis was an all time pro but unfortunately the same can't be said for the crew he worked with. 

Today we cover a prolific duo of robbers that pulled off numerous huge payout heists in the 80s. We're talking over a million for a bank robbery! That is unheard of in the heist world. Find out how they did it on this episode.

Today we tell the story of Raymond Flynn a mastermind that lead a crew that robbed the ultra rich by using their secret lil rich person phone book against them. HEEEIST

Today we coverer the Conrail boyz, a crew of amazing contemporary train robbers that hacked the system and cleaned out cargo trains of all their sweet, sweet, late 90s, merch like Tommy Hilifiger threads and probably wrap-around Oakleys and wide legged JNCO jeans. One of the coolest parts...these guys robbed the trains while they were moving. HEEEISST 

That's right the Remmo Clan pulled off Germany's Green Vault Heist, one of the biggest heists to go down in recent history. Yes, you read that right that's "1.9 Billion" with a "B." In this episode we'll talk all about how the job went down and how that 1.9 Bill isn't exactly what the crew would be getting on the black market. Also find out what Fox tossing is, it'll blow your mind. Yeah Bloodsports. HEEEIIISSST! 

Today we dive in to the background of the infamous Remmo clan, a criminal organization that's rising to fame. They might just be behind one of the biggest heists in recent years but we don't want to spoil anything just yet. Listen along as we break down how this crew formed and how they pulled off stealing a two hundred pound, solid gold Canadian coin from the Bode Museum In Berlin. HEIST!

Heist podcast is taking the last weekend of the summer off but we didn't want to leave you hanging, so here is a re-issue of one of our favorite episodes The Dirt Biking Ninja, it's an amazing story. Also crazy news just came in from Brazil about a heist involving hostages strapped to the hoods of getaway vehicles so you know we're gonna cover that. We'll be back with a new episode next week. Hang in there Heist Nation and enjoy the weekend.   Heeeeeiiisssttt!

In 1974 a crew pulled off a $13 million job at the Purolator head quarters in Chicago. And they did it all with out firing a bullet, or even showing a single weapon. This is a real classic heist story with some great twists are turns, like burning piles of cash ala the Joker and attending CrimeCon '74. Check it out, HEEEIST

Today we tell the sweet little tale about a lil' baby faced rapper named Mehmet Aydin who scammed tons of people into investing into his mobile game. But the real story here is what a hilarious and ridiculous character Mehmet is. Check it out. HEEEIIISST!

We pick up where we left off with our crazy international art smuggler Michel Van Rijn, this time he's pulling a fast one on a small time art dealer looking to make a name for herself. And at the same time trying not to get arrested and/or killed by his long time enemies. It's always a wild ride with MVR. HEEEISST!

Today we tell the story of Michel Van Rijn, probably the biggest international art smuggler in history, this guy has lived a crazy life. He hung out with the Russian mob one minute and clinked glasses with the richest people in the world the next. At the height of his smuggling career Michel was making millions, owned a private plan, yachts and villas around the world. But you can't smuggle and forge art all around the world with out making enemies, and he has a lot of them.

Today we tell the story of the Microsoft quality assurance agent who stole millions and millions of dollars in gift cards from his employer. Think about how many sweet Minecraft skins you could buy with that!  

Captain Andrew McKenna was a DOJ prosecutor in Washington D.C. A few years later he was blasting 60 bags of Heroin a day and robbing banks to fuel his $300 a day habit. Don't do drugs kids.  HEEEIIISST!

The Order is a religious sect that broke off from the Mormon church after they got rid of their polygamy policy. These dudes run Salt Lake City maintaining hundreds of profitable business. Their most profitable business (up until a few years ago) was running a bio fuel factory for the soul purpose of milking the government out of millions and millions of dollars. BLEED THE BEAST! HEIST!

We pick up where we left off on Part One. Mesrine is an international fugitive and escapes back to his homeland to get into some even crazy trouble, like I don't know, using a judge as a body shield! Jacques Mesrine (1936-1979) was a french criminal who never met a crime he didn't like. Robbery, burglary, bank jobs, kidnapping, prison breaks outs, prison break ins, you name it he was down. Mesrine traveled the world pulling off jobs, avoiding arrest and seeking out the ladies...which were mostly prostitutes. He was also super okay with murder, so "not cool Mesrine." 

Jacques Mesrine (1936-1979) was a french criminal who never met a crime he didn't like. Robbery, burglary, bank jobs, kidnapping, prison breaks outs, prison break ins, you name it he was down. Mesrine traveled the world pulling off jobs, avoiding arrest and seeking out the ladies...which were mostly prostitutes. He was also super okay with murder, so "not cool Mesrine." 

Today we are telling the strange and mysterious Story of Gerald Cotten. A pioneer in the bitcoin world who held the cold wallets of thousands of people. Until he died in India four days after he wrote a will. Where is that bitcoin fortune now and is Gerald actually dead? Lots of questions on this episode of HHHEEIIISSSTT!

In 1986 a mysterious man stole two Rubens sketches from the Fine Arts Museum in La Coruña, Spain then he disappeared. When one of the sketches showed up at an art appraisers office a year later, it kicked off a ten year mission to retrieve the second sketch and arrest the mysterious thief known only as Roman.

Are you ready for twists, turns, British royalty and learning what a "push-in" robbery is? Well check out our latest episode about Darius Guppy (like the fish, as in it's named after his family) an aristocrat connected at the highest level, this dude was BFFs with Boris Johnson and was Princess Dianna's brother's best man. Darius and his buddy, Benedict Marsh were victims of huge gem heist in the big apple....or were they? Wait...What? Find out on this wild episode of Heist. HHHEEEIIIST!

DuckTales is HUGE in Germany and so was an inventive extortionist that used Scrooge McDuck as his calling card. All Arno Funke ever wanted was to become a successful satirical cartoonist but after numerous failed attempts and his 40th birthday looming on the horizon, Funke decided what he needed was merely time to focus on his art, and money...a bunch of money. How was he going to get it, crime.

Forest Tucker spent most of his life behind bars but that didn't stop him from breaking out multiple times, his first jail break was at 15 years old and he was on a chain gang at 16. Not only did Tucker run with a crew of older gentleman named the "over the hill gang" he pulled off heists into his 70s. Oh and he also lived two secret lives as a family man. This dude was in the dog house and the big house non-stop. HEEEIISST!

During the 90s Blane David Nordhal was the biggest cat burglar in the united states, possibly the world. He robbed the mansion of the wealthiest people on the east, coast we're talking the Trumps, We're talking the Boss we're talking...American Sportscaster Curt Gowdy? The best part of the story, his crazy commitment to his MO and the fact he only stole one thing...Listen now to find out what.

Today we talk about famous heist mastermind slash prison escape artist Redoine Faid. From stealing packs of gum at 6 to running a gang of thieves at 18 to robbing armored vehicles and escaping prison via helicopter, Redoine was a heister right out of the movies. Which makes sense because he used many of the classics as blueprints for his crimes.

F-list actor Zack Horwitz (Stage name Zack Avery) was on his way to becoming a big time actor and at the same time he was the head of a massive investment group that was selling movie rights to Netflix, HBO and Sony. Well at least that's what his investors thought, turns out Zack didn't know any one from the major studios. Zack Attack was actually just running a textbook Ponzi scheme. Come for the scam, stay for all the hilarious stuff we dug up about this ridiculous character. You may have heard this story from other sources but none of them are telling it the way we are. HEEEEIIISSST!

Today we cover the crazy tale of Pal Enger a professional soccer player/career criminal that stole Edvard Munch's Scream from Norway's national museum on the night of their Olympic opening ceremony. The coolest part of this story, the criminal organization that hired Pal to steal it didn't give a crap what he did with it. It was all a distraction for bigger crimes.  HEEEIIISST!

Beirut 1976, in the middle of a civil war one of the biggest bank heists in history went down. $150 million in cash and gold was stolen, to never be seen again. To this day this highly skilled expert crew's identity has never been discovered, but after meeting a very secretive military source, one journalist believes he knows who pulled it off, and well it's crazy.

Tony Gignac spent decades pretending to be part of the Saudi royal family conning everyone from Saks on fifth, to the Beverly Hilton, to the uber wealthy people that live on a secret island in Florida. The one question we have is, did Tony actually think he WAS a Saudi Prince?  

Today we cover the Mission Impossible Gang. Gavril Popinciuc ran heist crews all over Europe, and he stuck to one moral code. Don't crap where you eat. His crews never pull off jobs in Romania. And it was working great, that is until Gavril got his hands on millions of dollars worth of rare books.

Today we tell the tale of Langdon Moore a man who pretty much failed at everything he did. Langdon is what we refer to in the industry as a "heat bag" always bringing way too much attention to himself, especially when acting as look out man. His story is a great lesson in what NOT to do. HEEIIISST.

Today we are telling the story of Tommy Thompson, an underwater engineer that discovered the SS central America, a ship that went down in a hurricane in 1857 with upwards of 3/4 of a billion dollars in gold on board. After a decade of fighting endless lawsuits Tommy vanished with 2.1 million dollars and 500 gold coins.  

Today we're telling the story of Sophie Lyons, one of the best criminals in 1860s. Sophie Lyons was trained at a young age to slice open rich woman's purses with a razor blade. From there she graduated in to one of New York's most successful and richest criminals. At the time of her death her estate was wroth over 750K (around 30 million today)

NYE 1987 Sydney Australia, the country is celebrating their bicentennial meanwhile at an Australian National Bank in Chinatown a crew are having a different kind of party, a heist party. It's a story straight out of the movies that still to this day is unsolved. And in the news, underwater beer heist and Matt's uncle's crazy wine. Check it out. HEEEEIIISSSTTT!