The Wine and Cheese Bank Robbery

This week we unravel the infamous “Wine and Cheese Heist” of 1976, masterminded by photographer slash chicken farmer Albert Spaggiari and his 20-man “sewer gang,” who spent months digging a secret tunnel, then casually looted a French bank vault over a holiday weekend, taking their time robbing the place while enjoying a wine and cheese picnic. But a couple of red chisels, stolen gold bars, a CIA tip-off, and one of the most cinematic courtroom escapes in history would ultimately crack the case.A special thanks to Sarah Schilling for assistance with the research for this case!SOURCESThe Heist of the Century: Inside the Société Générale Detectives’ Case. The New York Times. December 19, 1976.https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/19/archives/the-heist-of-the-century-inside-the-soci-t-g-n-rale-detectives.htmlFrench Hero-Criminal Gets Life in Absentia. The New York Times. November 8, 1979.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/08/archives/french-herocriminal-gets-life-in-absentia.htmlAlbert Spaggiari, 57, Mastermind of Notorious Riviera Bank Heist. The New York Times. June 12, 1989.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/12/obituaries/albert-spaggiari-57-mastermind-of-notorious-riviera-bank-heist.htmlMastermind of Notorious Bank Theft in France Dies. Orlando Sentinel. June 12, 1989.https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/06/12/mastermind-of-notorious-bank-theft-in-france-dies/FRANCE: Bank Heist of the Century. Time.https://time.com/archive/6848187/france-bank-heist-of-the-century/Suspected Mastermind on Trial for France’s ‘Heist of the Century’. The Guardian. February 12, 2018.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/jacques-cassandri-suspected-mastermind-societe-generale-france-heist-trialFrench Gangster Jacques Cassandri on Trial for 1976 ‘Heist of the Century’. BBC News.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43035229Albert Spaggiari and the Société Générale Robbery. RivRep.https://rivrep.com/history-and-traditions/811-albert-spaggiari-and-the-societe-generale-robberyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy