The biggest bank robbery in world history

One of the biggest bank robberies in world history was committed by Italian playboy gangster Valerio Viccei, who lived a life of luxury even in prison. On July 12, 1987, the son of an Italian lawyer, who had left Italy in 1986 because he was wanted there for over 50 armed robberies, entered the Safe Deposit Center in Knightbridge, London, together with an accomplice. Under the pretext of renting a safe deposit box there, they were led into the vault by the manager. There, they pulled out their handguns and overpowered both the manager and the security guards. They then hung a “Temporarily Closed” sign on the front door and let their accomplices in. They broke into countless safe deposit boxes and stole over £60 million from 120 broken-into boxes before calmly leaving the bank building. After the gang had already been gone for an hour, the new shift of security guards discovered the robbery and immediately informed the police. But Valerio Viccei was already long gone, having boarded a plane to South America. In South America, Valerio Viccei lived it up. He lived the ultimate playboy lifestyle, with only his Ferrari Testarossa missing from his happiness. So he foolishly returned to London to have his beloved Ferrari Testarossa shipped to his new home. But the police got wind of it, and when he was sitting in his beloved luxury car, the trap snapped shut. The police blocked the road, smashed the windshield, and pulled Valerio Viccei out of his sports car. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 1989 and spent five years in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight in the UK. He was then extradited to Italy. Viccei owed this to his lover, the glamorous blonde Lady Bienvenida Buck, who persuaded her husband, Tory MP Sir Antony Buck, to extradite Viccei to Italy, where, thanks to the Italian prison system, he was only locked up at night in the prison in Pescara. During the day, he was able to leave the prison at around 7:45 a.m. He always wore elegant suits and drove his Volvo S90 to his apartment in Pescara. He then drove to the office to organize his next crimes. Valerio Viccei enjoyed life to the fullest. In addition to fast cars, he loved beautiful blondes and thrills. At the age of 17, he had already blown up an electricity plant, as he was active as a right-wing terrorist at the time and had the nickname “The Wolf.” But he soon realized that his true passion was bank robberies. The car chases with the police gave him the adrenaline rush he craved. He loved playing with fire. In Italian prison, Valerio Viccei had carte blanche, only having to return at 10:45 p.m. after his furlough. On April 19, 2000, Valerio Viccei set off on his furlough again. That day, he wanted to meet with Mafia gangster Antonio Maletesta on a remote dirt road. Coincidentally, police officers drove by and asked for their ID and vehicle registration. While Maletesta fled, Viccei pulled out his semi-automatic Magnum 357. This did not impress police officer Enzo Baldini, who jumped on Viccei. A fight ensued, in which the then 45-year-old Valerio Viccei was fatally shot. The police officer was shot in the groin and underwent emergency surgery. He survived the shootout. Thus ended the life of playboy gangster Valerio Viccei, who had lived life in the fast lane, which ultimately led to his downfall.