The World's Biggest Diamond Heist

by Michael Reilly | March 12, 2009

Wired magazine has an excellent story just up on their website -- a jaw-dropping account of a $100 million diamond heist in Antwerp, Belgium's diamond district, a small part of the city through which 80% of the world's rough diamonds flow.

Think of the best heist movie you've ever seen. "Ocean's 11"? "The Italian Job"? "Inside Man"? Ok, now forget them, because this is better. It really happened, and no one has ever found the  missing $75 million in diamonds (the rest of the haul was mostly cash).

The main character and narrator of the story, Leonardo Notarbarto says in the opening part of the story, "I may be a thief and a liar, but I am going to tell you a true story."

Hard to tell how much of the details we should believe, including the ending -- was NotarBartolo set up by a crooked diamond dealer, or is he squirreling away his share of $100 million somewhere in Europe? Doesn't matter really it's still a damn good yarn. Go get yourself a coffee, beer, bag of pork rinds, or whatever. Then come back, sit down, and read it.  -- Michael Reilly

Image: Wired