Wire flash
Other1976 Nice bank heist: thieves tunnel into vault, loot 200 safe deposit boxes
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On July 21, 1976, in Nice, France, a gang executed the largest bank robbery in history at the time, stealing at least 50 million francs (₹9 crores) from a bank. The thieves dug an eight-meter tunnel into the strongroom over the weekend, rifling through 200 deposit boxes containing money, securities, jewels, and gold. They left a note saying 'No shots, no violence, no hatred' with a peace sign. The gang welded the vault door shut from inside, delaying discovery until Monday. Police were astonished by the skill displayed, believing the operation began on Friday night. The heist was compared to the British 'Great Train Robbery' as far more significant.
Source report
Source: From The Hindu Archives, July 22, 1976
Nice, France, July 21: Hundreds of agitated clients besieged a bank here yesterday to find out if they were among the victims of the biggest robbery in history.
At least 50 million francs (₹9 crores) were spirited away from the bank during a weekend operation carried out with military precision by a gang who got clean away.
- The thieves dug a tunnel eight metres long into the strongroom of the bank.
- They rifled 200 deposit boxes containing money, securities, jewels, and gold.
- Behind them, the thieves left a note saying, “No shots, no violence, no hatred,” bearing the international peace sign.
The gang worked undisturbed all weekend in an operation that makes the British ‘Great Train Robbery’ look like a candy store hold-up. Bank officials discovered the robbery only on Monday, as before leaving the way they got in, the gang had welded the vault door shut from the inside.
The police, who confessed that they were astonished by the skill displayed, believe the gang started the operation on Friday night.
Published - July 22, 2026 01:13 am IST
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
Part of this Story
Fifty years ago: Biggest bank robbery in French city