The Hatton Garden Heist  – The Diamond Wheezers, Part 1

"Analogue villains in a digital age.” In this explosive opener to a two-part special, True Criminals co-hosts Helen Fospero and Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt dig into the extraordinary story of the 2015 Hatton Garden Heist – one of the boldest burglaries Britain has ever seen. Joining them is true crime heavyweight Wensley Clarkson – journalist, author of Sexy Beasts, and an expert on the Hatton Garden crew and global organised crime. Together, they unravel how a gang of ageing criminals, some well into their seventies, executed a raid that left the authorities reeling. They were analogue villains in a digital age – dodging modern surveillance, shunning technology, and relying instead on brute force, pensioner cunning, and a diamond-tipped Hilti drill. Dubbed the “Diamond Wheezers,” the crew descended 50 feet down a lift shaft and breached a two-foot-thick concrete wall to loot London’s glittering heart of gold and jewels. Clarkson breaks down their motivations – were they desperate, bored, or simply stuck in a time warp? He also reveals the critical role of the elusive “Basil,” the chaos that followed the break-in, and just how close they came to pulling off the perfect crime, with a potential £14 million haul. More Last of the Summer Wine than Ocean’s Eleven, this is the incredible first chapter of a heist that made headlines worldwide. Listen now to Part 1. Also by Wensley Clarkson: Killing Goldfinger | The Crossing | The Real Top Boys | Bindon Available Here ................................................. Shop Air Up here: Treat yourself or someone special to a refreshing twist with Air Up!  Enjoy 10% off your order using the code TRUECRIMINALS at ⁠airup.link/truecriminals⁠. Explore all their delicious flavours today. Share Your Thoughts and Questions: Connect with us via email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you! Follow Us: Instagram: @true.criminals Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals Support Us: If you love the podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TrueCriminals Connect with Martin Brunt: Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Read Here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY Connect with Helen Fospero: Instagram: @helenfospero Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen Here. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 Credits: True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Music Composition: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices