#7 Schiphol Airport Heist
25th February 2005- Amsterdam: $118 million est.
This one is the largest diamond heist in history, with $118 million the estimated value of the robbery.
Many of the stones stolen were uncut, which makes them much harder to value and trace.
Unlike the other robberies on this list, this one was more akin to smash and grab situation.
Two weeks before the robbery, four men stole a KL cargo truck and KLM uniforms to divert suspicion until the last moment, so that they could move around the secure areas of the airport without problems.
The thieves drove right up to a KLM truck that was carrying a large haul of uncut diamonds intended for delivery to Antwerp.
With many witnesses present, they ordered the drivers out at gun-point and simply got in the truck and drove it away. Several men have been arrested in connection to the robbery.
