The Brink's-Mat burglary

Six robbers broke into the Brink's-Mat warehouse, Unit 7 of the Heathrow International Trading Estate near Heathrow Airport in West London, England, at 06:40 a.m. on November 26, 1983. The Brink's-Mat burglary was dubbed "the crime of the century."

Security guard Anthony Black, who was complicit in the robbery, let the gang into the warehouse. Once inside, they poured gasoline on the staff and threatened them with a lit match if they did not reveal the vault's combination numbers. The robbers expected to steal £3.2 million in cash, but instead discovered gold and diamonds.

They made off with $41 million in loot while wishing the guards a Merry Christmas. The majority of the robbers were apprehended, but the majority of the gold was never recovered. Lloyd's of London paid out compensation for the losses, and several shooting deaths have been linked to the case.

Stolen: $41 million