Solving the ‘heist of the century’
As French police investigate the shocking theft of precious jewels at the Louvre, we hear from Belgian detective Patrick Peys who solved the biggest diamond heist in history.
As French police investigate the shocking theft of precious jewels at the Louvre Museum, we hear from Belgian detective Patrick Peys who solved a $100m theft of diamonds from a heavily-protected vault in Antwerp in 2003. At the time, it was dubbed the ‘heist of the century.’ Patrick was one of the lead officers in the world’s first ‘diamond squad’, and this was without a doubt the most baffling case of his career. No one saw the thieves coming in, or out – but they left a trail of strange clues. He told Outlook’s Emily Webb in 2019 how he unravelled the mystery with the help of a broomstick, a weasel, and a salami sandwich.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Maryam Maruf
Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Retired Belgian detective Patrick Peys wears a blue jacket as he stands on a street in Antwerp’s Diamond District. Credit: Emily Webb)
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- Wed 29 Oct 202512:06GMTBBC World Service
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