1
00:00:02,213 --> 00:00:03,838
- The target is tempting.
2
00:00:03,963 --> 00:00:06,588
A haul that could net
over $30 million.
3
00:00:06,713 --> 00:00:09,463
- From the outside, looks
like an ordinary bank.
4
00:00:09,588 --> 00:00:12,588
But on the inside
it's anything but ordinary.
5
00:00:12,713 --> 00:00:15,672
- With ties to big labor,
a US president,
6
00:00:15,797 --> 00:00:17,005
and the mafia...
7
00:00:17,088 --> 00:00:21,338
- There's Nixon campaign money
in this one remote bank.
8
00:00:21,463 --> 00:00:26,130
- This heist isn't just
daring, it's dangerous.
9
00:00:26,213 --> 00:00:28,505
- Outside of the vault
they hear footsteps.
10
00:00:28,630 --> 00:00:30,838
Is he Secret Service?
Does he work for the bank?
11
00:00:30,922 --> 00:00:33,255
Is he security?
Everyone is panicking.
12
00:00:33,380 --> 00:00:34,713
[man coughs]
13
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:35,672
- What the [bleep]?
14
00:00:35,797 --> 00:00:36,797
[man coughs]
15
00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:37,797
- Maybe this isn't as easy
16
00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,755
as we thought it might be.
17
00:00:42,547 --> 00:00:44,755
♪ ♪
18
00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:46,838
- The masterminds
behind every great heist
19
00:00:46,963 --> 00:00:50,213
see what most people don't:
20
00:00:50,380 --> 00:00:53,255
risking everything to pull
off the score of a lifetime.
21
00:00:53,380 --> 00:00:56,547
It takes a bold plan...
22
00:00:56,713 --> 00:00:58,588
the right team...
23
00:00:58,713 --> 00:01:01,505
and the skill to stay
one step ahead of the law.
24
00:01:01,630 --> 00:01:04,588
[jazzy music]
25
00:01:04,713 --> 00:01:08,672
♪ ♪
26
00:01:12,630 --> 00:01:15,380
[suspenseful music]
27
00:01:15,505 --> 00:01:21,463
♪ ♪
28
00:01:23,172 --> 00:01:24,630
- [watch out] Watch out.
29
00:01:25,463 --> 00:01:26,463
- This way.
30
00:01:28,463 --> 00:01:29,713
[boom]
31
00:01:36,380 --> 00:01:40,005
- United California Bank
in Laguna Niguel.
32
00:01:40,130 --> 00:01:42,463
It's isolated, in a town
with a lot of money,
33
00:01:42,588 --> 00:01:44,755
and its vault is filled
with the safe deposit
34
00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,797
boxes of wealthy locals.
35
00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,755
It's also allegedly
heist-proof.
36
00:01:52,463 --> 00:01:53,463
[clank]
37
00:01:55,047 --> 00:01:57,880
[surf music]
38
00:01:58,005 --> 00:02:01,588
♪ ♪
39
00:02:01,713 --> 00:02:05,213
- The United California Bank
was structurally well built.
40
00:02:05,380 --> 00:02:09,338
It had a vault inside
about 12 by 15
41
00:02:09,422 --> 00:02:13,630
with very, very thick walls and
rebar all the way around it.
42
00:02:14,380 --> 00:02:17,797
- The vault door is
fireproof and blast proof,
43
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,463
and weighs nearly 1,000
pounds.
44
00:02:20,547 --> 00:02:23,088
Its time-lock
mechanism means that it
45
00:02:23,213 --> 00:02:25,672
can't be opened after hours...
46
00:02:25,755 --> 00:02:29,130
at least not by
law-abiding citizens.
47
00:02:29,213 --> 00:02:32,047
- It was significant
and state of the art
48
00:02:32,213 --> 00:02:34,005
for that time period.
49
00:02:34,130 --> 00:02:36,213
- But it has a
secret that makes
50
00:02:36,380 --> 00:02:39,672
a crew of professional
thieves travel 2,400
51
00:02:39,797 --> 00:02:41,755
miles from Ohio to rob it.
52
00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,172
- United California Bank,
from the outside,
53
00:02:44,297 --> 00:02:46,422
looks like an ordinary bank.
54
00:02:46,547 --> 00:02:50,255
But on the inside is
anything but ordinary.
55
00:02:50,380 --> 00:02:54,213
The tipster says that
there is a $30 million stash
56
00:02:54,338 --> 00:02:56,338
rumored to be dirty money
57
00:02:56,463 --> 00:02:58,505
belonging to
President Richard Nixon
58
00:02:58,672 --> 00:03:00,338
inside this bank.
59
00:03:00,505 --> 00:03:04,505
And that's the background
that gets this all going.
60
00:03:04,630 --> 00:03:07,047
♪ ♪
61
00:03:07,213 --> 00:03:08,713
- It's a few months
before Watergate
62
00:03:08,838 --> 00:03:12,505
and Richard Nixon is already
known as Tricky Dick.
63
00:03:12,630 --> 00:03:14,547
Nixon is running
for reelection
64
00:03:14,672 --> 00:03:16,505
and he's amassing
his war chest.
65
00:03:16,630 --> 00:03:19,380
And the money is coming in
from some interesting sources,
66
00:03:19,505 --> 00:03:21,922
including the Teamsters.
67
00:03:22,047 --> 00:03:24,338
Jimmy Hoffa, who's the
president of the Teamsters,
68
00:03:24,422 --> 00:03:26,838
is serving 4 years
of a 13-year sentence
69
00:03:27,005 --> 00:03:29,213
for bribery and fraud.
70
00:03:29,338 --> 00:03:33,255
- Hoffa wants out of prison,
so he allegedly
71
00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:35,880
tries to cut a deal
with President Nixon.
72
00:03:36,047 --> 00:03:41,255
As the story goes, Nixon says
in exchange for a pardon
73
00:03:41,380 --> 00:03:44,755
he wants $3 million
and an endorsement
74
00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,338
from the Teamsters Union.
75
00:03:47,463 --> 00:03:50,630
So Hoffa goes along
with this agreement.
76
00:03:50,713 --> 00:03:53,338
- But the money
comes with a condition.
77
00:03:53,463 --> 00:03:56,005
- The caveat is that Hoffa
78
00:03:56,130 --> 00:03:57,755
cannot serve as the head
of the Teamsters
79
00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,588
for nine whole years.
80
00:03:59,713 --> 00:04:03,588
- And when he does get
out of prison, he's pissed
81
00:04:03,713 --> 00:04:05,797
and he wants
his $3 million back.
82
00:04:05,922 --> 00:04:09,672
- Jimmy Hoffa uses his
mob ties to figure out
83
00:04:09,797 --> 00:04:11,505
that this money, this fund,
is held in a bank
84
00:04:11,630 --> 00:04:13,797
in little old Laguna Niguel.
85
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,422
- And so using
his mobster connections,
86
00:04:17,547 --> 00:04:21,255
Hoffa decided to call it the
best burglars in the country.
87
00:04:21,380 --> 00:04:24,213
- The question goes out
to mobsters everywhere:
88
00:04:24,380 --> 00:04:26,297
who would you use
on a bank job
89
00:04:26,422 --> 00:04:29,172
if your life depended on it?
90
00:04:29,297 --> 00:04:33,130
There's one answer:
the Dinsio brothers,
91
00:04:33,213 --> 00:04:35,380
out of Youngstown, Ohio.
92
00:04:37,547 --> 00:04:40,005
- Cleveland mafia members,
on behalf of Hoffa,
93
00:04:40,088 --> 00:04:43,838
approached Amil Dinsio
94
00:04:44,005 --> 00:04:47,505
and his brother James Dinsio.
95
00:04:48,338 --> 00:04:52,005
The Dinsio brothers,
with this $30 million heist,
96
00:04:52,172 --> 00:04:55,547
and of course
they can't refuse that.
97
00:04:55,713 --> 00:04:58,755
- The mastermind
will be Amil Dinsio.
98
00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,338
Born in 1936 to Italian
immigrant parents,
99
00:05:03,463 --> 00:05:06,422
his father's restaurant
hosted backroom gambling
100
00:05:06,547 --> 00:05:08,672
run by local mafiosos.
101
00:05:08,797 --> 00:05:12,255
These men mentored young
Amil in the art of the heist,
102
00:05:12,380 --> 00:05:15,380
and he was their star student.
103
00:05:15,505 --> 00:05:18,505
- Amil Dinsio is the brains.
He's the mastermind.
104
00:05:18,672 --> 00:05:22,255
He's methodical, his attention
to detail is second to none,
105
00:05:22,380 --> 00:05:25,755
and he's exactly who you
want in a heist like this.
106
00:05:27,463 --> 00:05:31,172
- I met with Amil Dinsio
multiple occasions,
107
00:05:31,255 --> 00:05:32,672
and he made it
a point to tell me,
108
00:05:32,755 --> 00:05:34,297
you know,
"We never hurt nobody."
109
00:05:34,422 --> 00:05:38,505
- Amil Dinsio is a popular
folk hero,
110
00:05:38,588 --> 00:05:41,505
and crimes like this
were part of the way of life.
111
00:05:41,630 --> 00:05:44,672
- So not only is Amil the
best burglar in the world,
112
00:05:44,755 --> 00:05:47,547
he's also the planner
and the recruiter,
113
00:05:47,713 --> 00:05:51,505
and he wants to build the best
team to pull this thing off.
114
00:05:51,630 --> 00:05:53,505
So he starts
building his crew,
115
00:05:53,672 --> 00:05:57,255
and it starts with his
brother James Dinsio.
116
00:05:57,380 --> 00:05:59,213
- James Dinsio,
who's Amil's older brother,
117
00:05:59,338 --> 00:06:02,213
is a self-taught
explosives expert.
118
00:06:02,338 --> 00:06:03,880
And he has a gift.
And we know he has a gift,
119
00:06:04,047 --> 00:06:06,213
because he has all 10 fingers.
120
00:06:06,338 --> 00:06:07,547
- James and Amil have
been hitting banks
121
00:06:07,672 --> 00:06:09,297
since they were teenagers.
122
00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:10,713
They've worked together,
they trust each other.
123
00:06:10,838 --> 00:06:13,505
Together they form
the core of the crew.
124
00:06:13,672 --> 00:06:15,422
- The deal is that
Hoffa is made whole,
125
00:06:15,547 --> 00:06:18,463
he gets his $3 million back,
the mob gets 5%,
126
00:06:18,588 --> 00:06:20,130
and the team splits the rest.
127
00:06:20,255 --> 00:06:21,547
- They've done a lot
of heists.
128
00:06:21,713 --> 00:06:23,297
They've done something
like 70-plus heists,
129
00:06:23,422 --> 00:06:26,547
but never anything like
a $30 million heist.
130
00:06:27,255 --> 00:06:29,713
- The brothers'
first step is a scout
131
00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:31,588
to learn all the
obstacles standing
132
00:06:31,713 --> 00:06:34,963
between them and $30 million.
133
00:06:35,047 --> 00:06:40,047
That means trading Ohio snow
for some California sunshine.
134
00:06:41,755 --> 00:06:43,505
- When you're doing a heist,
135
00:06:43,630 --> 00:06:46,005
you have to case the place,
check out the security,
136
00:06:46,130 --> 00:06:47,672
check out the environment.
137
00:06:47,838 --> 00:06:49,505
- They're casing the shopping
center day and night.
138
00:06:49,630 --> 00:06:51,672
How busy is it during
the day, after it closes?
139
00:06:51,838 --> 00:06:53,922
And what they're finding
out is after 10:00 p.m.,
140
00:06:54,047 --> 00:06:55,797
it's pretty much dead.
141
00:06:57,547 --> 00:07:00,172
- The lack of
nightlife is expected.
142
00:07:00,297 --> 00:07:02,547
But the lack of
after-hours security
143
00:07:02,672 --> 00:07:05,588
is a welcome surprise.
144
00:07:05,713 --> 00:07:08,005
- Laguna Niguel is
essentially Sleepy Hollow.
145
00:07:08,172 --> 00:07:10,672
There was very little in
the way of law enforcement.
146
00:07:10,797 --> 00:07:13,297
The Orange County Sheriff's
Department had jurisdiction
147
00:07:13,380 --> 00:07:16,588
over the entire county,
and at nighttimes
148
00:07:16,713 --> 00:07:20,130
they only had allotted one
car for South County,
149
00:07:20,213 --> 00:07:22,838
which was the entire area
from Tustin, California,
150
00:07:22,963 --> 00:07:26,505
all the way down
to Laguna Niguel.
151
00:07:26,630 --> 00:07:29,422
- They realized that the
bank closes Friday evening,
152
00:07:29,547 --> 00:07:31,672
a cleaning crew comes
through, and then
153
00:07:31,755 --> 00:07:33,422
they have the whole
weekend to do whatever
154
00:07:33,547 --> 00:07:35,547
they want in the bank.
155
00:07:37,755 --> 00:07:39,880
So Amil and James
are casing the place.
156
00:07:40,005 --> 00:07:41,505
They are going
through the bushes.
157
00:07:41,672 --> 00:07:43,672
It's like the dead of night.
158
00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:46,672
They're doing it very, very
carefully, very covertly,
159
00:07:46,797 --> 00:07:48,672
hiding behind these bushes.
160
00:07:48,797 --> 00:07:52,005
They're trying to figure out
what makes this bank tick
161
00:07:52,130 --> 00:07:53,755
when a car pulls up.
162
00:07:55,547 --> 00:07:58,005
- A car pulls up
into the plaza,
163
00:07:58,130 --> 00:08:00,047
right in front of the bank.
164
00:08:00,172 --> 00:08:02,963
A man gets out.
He's dressed in dark clothing.
165
00:08:03,088 --> 00:08:06,755
Opens up the back door and
a German shepherd gets out,
166
00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,963
and the dog starts patrolling
the perimeter of the bank.
167
00:08:11,088 --> 00:08:14,130
- The dog, meanwhile, gets
closer and closer to them.
168
00:08:14,213 --> 00:08:16,172
- Amil and James are
thinking, who is this guy?
169
00:08:16,338 --> 00:08:19,047
Is he just taking his dog
out for a midnight stroll?
170
00:08:19,172 --> 00:08:21,713
Or is he some kind of security
they didn't know about?
171
00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,088
- The Dinsios fear the worst.
172
00:08:25,213 --> 00:08:29,422
If this is a canine patrol,
they're dead on arrival.
173
00:08:29,547 --> 00:08:31,880
- And then the dog
starts getting closer
174
00:08:32,047 --> 00:08:33,463
and closer to where
they're hiding
175
00:08:33,547 --> 00:08:36,172
and then looks
directly at them.
176
00:08:36,338 --> 00:08:38,005
[growling]
177
00:08:42,672 --> 00:08:45,130
- With millions on the line,
Amil and James Dinsio
178
00:08:45,213 --> 00:08:48,047
are scouting the biggest
heist of their careers.
179
00:08:48,172 --> 00:08:50,713
♪ ♪
180
00:08:50,838 --> 00:08:54,338
But an encounter with what
looks like a canine patrol
181
00:08:54,463 --> 00:08:56,505
could stop this job
before it begins.
182
00:08:56,630 --> 00:08:59,338
[suspenseful music]
183
00:08:59,505 --> 00:09:02,755
[dog barking]
184
00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,505
- If they get caught, it's all
the planning down the drain,
185
00:09:05,630 --> 00:09:07,672
millions of dollars
down the drain,
186
00:09:07,755 --> 00:09:09,797
and then having to answer
to the Cleveland mob.
187
00:09:11,505 --> 00:09:13,463
- They think,
we've been found out.
188
00:09:13,588 --> 00:09:14,505
[dog barking]
189
00:09:14,588 --> 00:09:16,672
[music escalates]
190
00:09:18,922 --> 00:09:20,130
[man whistles, dog barking]
191
00:09:20,255 --> 00:09:22,505
But then the dog leaves.
192
00:09:22,630 --> 00:09:24,922
Gets back in the car
and they drive away.
193
00:09:25,047 --> 00:09:26,922
- Even after the man
and the dog leave,
194
00:09:27,047 --> 00:09:28,838
there's this
wild-card element that
195
00:09:28,922 --> 00:09:30,338
they have to contend with.
196
00:09:30,463 --> 00:09:32,630
Is he security for the plaza?
197
00:09:32,755 --> 00:09:35,713
Is he FBI?
Is he Secret Service?
198
00:09:35,838 --> 00:09:39,005
And will it get in the way of
them pulling this thing off?
199
00:09:39,130 --> 00:09:41,255
♪ ♪
200
00:09:41,380 --> 00:09:43,588
- It's an alarming prospect.
201
00:09:43,713 --> 00:09:45,838
And has the team
worried about
202
00:09:45,963 --> 00:09:49,630
what kind of security
system the bank has.
203
00:09:49,755 --> 00:09:51,505
- What's standard in
a bank at this time
204
00:09:51,630 --> 00:09:53,963
is an outside alarm, an
alarm that makes a sound,
205
00:09:54,047 --> 00:09:56,838
and an alarm in the vault,
a silent alarm.
206
00:09:56,963 --> 00:09:58,838
- Now these guys are pros.
207
00:09:58,922 --> 00:10:00,338
They know there are going
to be two kinds of alarms.
208
00:10:00,463 --> 00:10:01,797
They're creeping around
the perimeter of the bank
209
00:10:01,922 --> 00:10:03,922
to find that
exterior alarm bell.
210
00:10:04,047 --> 00:10:07,130
Amil finds it and he
notices the company name.
211
00:10:07,213 --> 00:10:10,630
- Amil looks up and he sees
Diebold Alarm,
212
00:10:10,713 --> 00:10:13,838
and a smile is on his face.
213
00:10:13,963 --> 00:10:15,672
He knows a lot about Diebold.
214
00:10:15,797 --> 00:10:19,338
He's robbed a number of
bank vaults with Diebold,
215
00:10:19,463 --> 00:10:21,172
so this is the
best-case scenario.
216
00:10:21,297 --> 00:10:23,672
- So they have the
exterior alarm covered;
217
00:10:23,797 --> 00:10:25,963
it's that silent alarm they
need more information on.
218
00:10:26,047 --> 00:10:28,047
And they know there's going
to be at least a wire that
219
00:10:28,172 --> 00:10:30,338
goes from the vault
to either the police
220
00:10:30,505 --> 00:10:32,005
or the alarm company.
221
00:10:32,130 --> 00:10:35,005
♪ ♪
222
00:10:35,130 --> 00:10:36,963
- Amil and James
begin to work out
223
00:10:37,047 --> 00:10:39,297
a plan for a two-night heist.
224
00:10:39,380 --> 00:10:42,255
Night one, they'll cut
a hole through the roof
225
00:10:42,380 --> 00:10:45,047
and drop a few feet down
onto the top of the vault.
226
00:10:45,213 --> 00:10:47,213
They'll disable
the loud exterior
227
00:10:47,338 --> 00:10:50,338
alarm and then the
interior silent alarm
228
00:10:50,505 --> 00:10:52,338
that alerts the police.
229
00:10:52,422 --> 00:10:55,797
James will then drill holes
down into the vault's ceilings
230
00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,755
and fill them with explosives.
231
00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,213
From there, they'll
use sandbags to muffle
232
00:11:00,380 --> 00:11:03,672
the sound and direct the blast
into the vault.
233
00:11:03,755 --> 00:11:06,505
On night two,
they'll use brute force
234
00:11:06,672 --> 00:11:08,505
to bust into
hundreds of safe deposit
235
00:11:08,672 --> 00:11:10,963
boxes and get the loot.
236
00:11:11,047 --> 00:11:13,838
It's simple,
but it's a lot of work
237
00:11:14,005 --> 00:11:16,255
and the devil will
be in the details.
238
00:11:18,213 --> 00:11:20,088
- Now that they've completed
their very thorough recon
239
00:11:20,213 --> 00:11:21,880
and have the broad
strokes of a plan,
240
00:11:22,005 --> 00:11:23,630
they need to build out
the rest of the team.
241
00:11:23,755 --> 00:11:25,713
And that means
242
00:11:25,838 --> 00:11:28,838
going back to Ohio.
243
00:11:29,005 --> 00:11:31,755
- After Amil and James
fly home and report in,
244
00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,922
their mafia handlers make
an offer they can't refuse.
245
00:11:36,047 --> 00:11:39,505
They add a mob-connected alarm
specialist to their crew.
246
00:11:39,588 --> 00:11:41,838
♪ ♪
247
00:11:41,922 --> 00:11:43,630
- My name
is Philip Christopher,
248
00:11:43,713 --> 00:11:46,505
and they call me
the Super Thief.
249
00:11:46,588 --> 00:11:49,213
♪ ♪
250
00:11:50,963 --> 00:11:53,547
Born and raised
Cleveland, Ohio.
251
00:11:53,713 --> 00:11:55,338
Still there to this day.
252
00:11:55,463 --> 00:11:57,422
- Cleveland was home
to some of the best
253
00:11:57,547 --> 00:11:59,172
burglars in the world.
254
00:11:59,297 --> 00:12:01,963
Phil Christopher is
known as an alarm guy.
255
00:12:02,088 --> 00:12:03,713
They want the best
of the best,
256
00:12:03,838 --> 00:12:05,630
so they're going to
recruit that.
257
00:12:05,755 --> 00:12:07,380
- They would come to
us because they knew
258
00:12:07,505 --> 00:12:09,005
damn well we were the best.
259
00:12:09,088 --> 00:12:11,130
Nobody could beat the
alarms like I could.
260
00:12:11,213 --> 00:12:14,130
But I got in there, you
know, by hook or by crook.
261
00:12:14,255 --> 00:12:15,630
I was going to get
in there because
262
00:12:15,713 --> 00:12:17,797
I wasn't going home empty.
263
00:12:17,922 --> 00:12:19,505
- The next member
of the Dinsios
264
00:12:19,588 --> 00:12:22,172
add to the team
is Chuck Mulligan.
265
00:12:22,297 --> 00:12:25,880
He'll acquire the specialized
gear to get the job done
266
00:12:26,005 --> 00:12:28,255
without leaving a trail.
267
00:12:28,380 --> 00:12:30,838
- They go to Chuck Mulligan,
who is their brother-in-law
268
00:12:30,922 --> 00:12:31,838
so they trust him.
269
00:12:32,005 --> 00:12:34,088
They've worked with him before.
270
00:12:34,213 --> 00:12:37,338
- Meanwhile, James Dinsio
begins building some
271
00:12:37,422 --> 00:12:39,838
of the custom tools
they'll need for the job,
272
00:12:39,963 --> 00:12:41,838
including a drill...
273
00:12:42,005 --> 00:12:44,963
one you can't just pick up
in your local hardware store.
274
00:12:45,047 --> 00:12:47,213
- This drill
runs on 2,500 RPMs
275
00:12:47,380 --> 00:12:50,005
and has a 3/8-inch
carbon tip drill bit
276
00:12:50,172 --> 00:12:51,547
that can pulverize concrete.
277
00:12:51,672 --> 00:12:54,047
And it is super, super quiet.
278
00:12:54,172 --> 00:12:55,922
This is a critical element,
because not only will they
279
00:12:56,047 --> 00:12:58,338
be able to drill the
hole that they need,
280
00:12:58,422 --> 00:13:01,422
it'll be quiet enough that
no one else will hear it.
281
00:13:01,547 --> 00:13:05,672
- Busting into safe deposit
boxes takes serious muscle,
282
00:13:05,755 --> 00:13:10,088
so the Cleveland mob also adds
Charles Broeckel to the team.
283
00:13:10,213 --> 00:13:12,380
He's not just an associate,
he's also
284
00:13:12,505 --> 00:13:13,838
Phil Christopher's cousin.
285
00:13:13,963 --> 00:13:15,297
- He's a mobbed-up partner.
286
00:13:15,380 --> 00:13:16,797
He's worked with Phil.
287
00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,005
He is someone that Phil trusts.
288
00:13:20,130 --> 00:13:22,047
- So he's not going to
let anything happen to me,
289
00:13:22,213 --> 00:13:24,047
you know,
because we were close.
290
00:13:24,172 --> 00:13:25,672
- The mob puts two
of their guys on,
291
00:13:25,838 --> 00:13:26,963
so when they're
splitting up the money,
292
00:13:27,088 --> 00:13:28,713
no one forgets how to do math.
293
00:13:28,838 --> 00:13:31,713
♪ ♪
294
00:13:31,838 --> 00:13:33,922
- With an ace team,
a great plan,
295
00:13:34,047 --> 00:13:36,047
and custom gear
packed and ready,
296
00:13:36,213 --> 00:13:39,005
it's time to fly
back to California.
297
00:13:39,130 --> 00:13:42,005
The Dinsios are determined
that the biggest heist
298
00:13:42,130 --> 00:13:44,672
of their careers be flawless.
299
00:13:44,755 --> 00:13:47,547
- So Charlie and I
got to the airport
300
00:13:47,672 --> 00:13:48,838
and they tell Charlie,
Charlie, where's
301
00:13:48,963 --> 00:13:52,505
our driver's license, our
phony ID that we had made up?
302
00:13:52,672 --> 00:13:54,713
And he said, oh, I forgot them.
303
00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,672
I said, how the hell
are we going to get
304
00:13:56,797 --> 00:13:58,463
on a plane with no phony ID?
305
00:13:58,588 --> 00:14:02,797
Because I had to be careful
because I was on probation.
306
00:14:02,922 --> 00:14:05,838
- Nobody knows how long
the cash will remain
307
00:14:05,922 --> 00:14:08,005
in the bank in California,
308
00:14:08,172 --> 00:14:10,047
so the heist team
has to decide,
309
00:14:10,172 --> 00:14:13,172
do they make their move now...
310
00:14:13,297 --> 00:14:16,005
or lie low for one more week?
311
00:14:16,172 --> 00:14:18,797
- When Charlie Broeckel
forgets the fake IDs,
312
00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,797
they use their real IDs,
their real names.
313
00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:22,505
They still got on the planes.
314
00:14:22,630 --> 00:14:24,880
- I didn't want to do it, but
I knew the other guys were
315
00:14:25,047 --> 00:14:27,172
on a plane waiting for us
and I didn't want to say,
316
00:14:27,297 --> 00:14:28,797
well, we'll catch you
on the next flight.
317
00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,630
I didn't want to
make it seem like we
318
00:14:31,713 --> 00:14:34,172
didn't know what was doing.
319
00:14:34,338 --> 00:14:36,172
- Once they arrive
in Laguna Niguel,
320
00:14:36,255 --> 00:14:38,047
they're joined by
the last member
321
00:14:38,172 --> 00:14:42,755
of the crew, getaway driver
and radioman Harry Barber.
322
00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,130
- So Harry Barber is a nephew.
323
00:14:46,255 --> 00:14:48,130
Again, it's mostly
a family affair.
324
00:14:48,255 --> 00:14:49,838
These are people
he's worked with,
325
00:14:49,963 --> 00:14:51,255
these are people he trusts.
326
00:14:53,172 --> 00:14:55,422
- Chuck Mulligan picks
up the last items
327
00:14:55,547 --> 00:14:58,797
on his unusual shopping
list, walkie talkies,
328
00:14:58,922 --> 00:15:02,088
nitroglycerine,
and a getaway car.
329
00:15:02,213 --> 00:15:05,047
The team gathers for
final preparations.
330
00:15:05,213 --> 00:15:06,922
- Harry Barber rented
a place down there
331
00:15:07,047 --> 00:15:10,338
at the West Nine in
Laguna Niguel, which
332
00:15:10,505 --> 00:15:12,172
is a condominium area
about a couple
333
00:15:12,297 --> 00:15:14,713
of miles east from the bank.
334
00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,505
- It was like perfect.
335
00:15:16,588 --> 00:15:18,380
The condo's on the edge
of the golf course,
336
00:15:18,547 --> 00:15:22,172
so nobody's going to see us
approach the bank at all.
337
00:15:22,338 --> 00:15:29,172
♪ ♪
338
00:15:31,088 --> 00:15:34,255
- At 10:00 p.m. on Friday,
the heist team heads out,
339
00:15:34,380 --> 00:15:37,338
carrying their tools
across the golf course...
340
00:15:37,463 --> 00:15:41,172
on the way to a
different kind of green.
341
00:15:41,297 --> 00:15:45,005
- Charlie Mulligan takes his
position on top of the hill
342
00:15:45,130 --> 00:15:47,505
as we walk down the
embankment.
343
00:15:47,630 --> 00:15:50,838
- For the duration of this
mission, he's the lookout.
344
00:15:50,922 --> 00:15:52,963
Harry Barber stays
back at the condo,
345
00:15:53,088 --> 00:15:55,047
listening to the
police scanner,
346
00:15:55,213 --> 00:15:57,130
and he's on standby with the
getaway car in case anything
347
00:15:57,213 --> 00:15:58,880
goes wrong.
[police radio chatter]
348
00:15:59,047 --> 00:16:00,505
[suspenseful music]
349
00:16:00,672 --> 00:16:05,338
- Friday, March 24,
1972, at 11:00 p.m.,
350
00:16:05,463 --> 00:16:09,297
the Dinsio crew is ready
to put their plan, their gear,
351
00:16:09,380 --> 00:16:11,755
and their nerves to the test.
352
00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,047
The heist starts now.
353
00:16:16,922 --> 00:16:19,630
♪ ♪
354
00:16:19,713 --> 00:16:21,838
- Amil, James, and Phil
make their way up the ladder
355
00:16:21,963 --> 00:16:23,922
to the roof,
leaving Broeckel down
356
00:16:24,047 --> 00:16:26,630
below as a secondary lookout.
357
00:16:26,713 --> 00:16:28,380
Their first order of business?
358
00:16:28,505 --> 00:16:31,505
To cut a hole in the roof
to get to the vault below.
359
00:16:31,630 --> 00:16:35,088
- We were drilling our
holes where we estimated
360
00:16:35,213 --> 00:16:37,213
the top of the vault would be.
361
00:16:37,338 --> 00:16:41,588
Then we drilled four holes in
the square and then got a saw
362
00:16:41,713 --> 00:16:44,672
and cut it and then made sure
we didn't drop it because it
363
00:16:44,797 --> 00:16:48,005
might have a vibration
alarm inside the vault.
364
00:16:48,130 --> 00:16:51,505
So we had to be careful not
to drop anything on there.
365
00:16:53,297 --> 00:16:55,005
- So once they
have the hole cut,
366
00:16:55,088 --> 00:16:57,172
they bring the ladder up
from the side of the building
367
00:16:57,338 --> 00:16:59,672
and lower it down
above the vault.
368
00:16:59,797 --> 00:17:02,255
- Amil and Phil enter
the building to look
369
00:17:02,380 --> 00:17:05,130
for the vault's silent alarm.
370
00:17:05,255 --> 00:17:07,130
As silently as possible.
371
00:17:07,213 --> 00:17:11,255
Any vibrations could land
the crew in handcuffs.
372
00:17:14,297 --> 00:17:18,588
- Amil and I, we crawl down
on top of the vault.
373
00:17:18,713 --> 00:17:21,505
At this point, we're
looking for a junction box
374
00:17:21,672 --> 00:17:24,463
where the alarm was
coming from inside the vault.
375
00:17:24,547 --> 00:17:26,838
- They came in through
the roof and they
376
00:17:26,963 --> 00:17:28,172
were trying to find the alarm.
377
00:17:28,338 --> 00:17:31,255
They were looking
for wires all around.
378
00:17:31,380 --> 00:17:34,505
- Phil and Amil finally
find the junction box
379
00:17:34,588 --> 00:17:37,713
that should contain the
wires for the silent alarm.
380
00:17:37,838 --> 00:17:42,005
But they can't figure
out which ones, if any,
381
00:17:42,172 --> 00:17:44,422
are the actual alarm.
382
00:17:44,547 --> 00:17:45,338
- They were looking
for the wires that
383
00:17:45,463 --> 00:17:47,172
will connect to
this box that sends
384
00:17:47,297 --> 00:17:49,338
a frequency to the police.
385
00:17:49,463 --> 00:17:52,380
And they could not for the
life of them find these things.
386
00:17:52,547 --> 00:17:55,505
- Did they underestimate
this suburban bank?
387
00:17:55,630 --> 00:17:57,838
Does it have a kind
of silent alarm
388
00:17:57,922 --> 00:18:00,047
system they've never seen?
389
00:18:00,172 --> 00:18:02,463
With millions at stake
and the Cleveland mob
390
00:18:02,547 --> 00:18:06,713
expecting results,
they need answers...fast.
391
00:18:06,838 --> 00:18:09,172
- So they're thinking, is this
bigger than we ever thought?
392
00:18:09,255 --> 00:18:10,922
What's going on?
Are we in over our heads?
393
00:18:11,047 --> 00:18:12,463
They were freaked out.
394
00:18:17,838 --> 00:18:20,505
- In Laguna Niguel,
an elite crew of criminals
395
00:18:20,672 --> 00:18:23,005
is attempting to
steal $30 million
396
00:18:23,130 --> 00:18:25,588
from the
United California Bank.
397
00:18:25,713 --> 00:18:27,338
But the silent alarm
they need to find
398
00:18:27,463 --> 00:18:31,088
might as well be invisible.
399
00:18:31,213 --> 00:18:33,338
- Amil says,
there ain't no alarm.
400
00:18:33,505 --> 00:18:35,172
I said, no, there's
gotta be an alarm.
401
00:18:35,255 --> 00:18:37,172
I said, move over.
402
00:18:37,297 --> 00:18:40,297
So I'm checking the
same way he was doing.
403
00:18:40,380 --> 00:18:42,380
And I said, dang,
you're right, what the hell?
404
00:18:42,547 --> 00:18:44,547
It's got to be in
here somewhere.
405
00:18:44,713 --> 00:18:48,297
- They're in the middle of
this crazy, intense situation.
406
00:18:48,422 --> 00:18:51,672
The clock is ticking
and they can't find it.
407
00:18:51,797 --> 00:18:54,172
- Maybe there's another
box in here somewhere.
408
00:18:54,338 --> 00:18:56,797
So we looked around, looked
around, looked around.
409
00:18:56,922 --> 00:18:58,088
We couldn't find it.
410
00:19:00,255 --> 00:19:02,755
So now we figured we've
been in there long enough,
411
00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:04,338
let's get out of here.
412
00:19:04,463 --> 00:19:06,338
- So after hours of
searching, they decide
413
00:19:06,463 --> 00:19:08,505
to regroup back at the condo.
414
00:19:08,630 --> 00:19:10,380
- But before they leave on
that first night, they make
415
00:19:10,505 --> 00:19:12,630
sure to cover their
tracks, which means
416
00:19:12,755 --> 00:19:15,505
the hole that they've cut
into the roof, they take it
417
00:19:15,672 --> 00:19:17,963
and they put it back and they
seal it with a light layer
418
00:19:18,088 --> 00:19:20,172
of tar, which means
people from above
419
00:19:20,255 --> 00:19:22,172
won't know that anything
has happened to the roof.
420
00:19:22,338 --> 00:19:23,838
Nobody is the wiser.
421
00:19:23,963 --> 00:19:27,672
[dramatic music]
422
00:19:27,797 --> 00:19:31,422
♪ ♪
423
00:19:31,547 --> 00:19:33,255
- This team of
elite thieves isn't
424
00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:35,255
feeling very elite right now.
425
00:19:35,380 --> 00:19:36,838
The heist of the century?
426
00:19:37,005 --> 00:19:40,422
Well, it has fizzled
after four hours.
427
00:19:40,547 --> 00:19:43,838
They retreat to the condo
filled with doubt.
428
00:19:43,922 --> 00:19:46,672
If the bank's rumored
connection to President Nixon
429
00:19:46,755 --> 00:19:50,672
are true, then its security
setup could be something
430
00:19:50,797 --> 00:19:52,672
they've never seen before.
431
00:19:52,797 --> 00:19:57,422
Then, Phil Christopher
considers another possibility.
432
00:19:57,547 --> 00:20:00,380
- It dawned on me after
a lot of thinking,
433
00:20:00,547 --> 00:20:03,047
could it be possible
they got it the old way?
434
00:20:03,213 --> 00:20:04,922
I mean, no,
they can't have it...
435
00:20:05,047 --> 00:20:06,422
I mean, can they have it?
436
00:20:06,547 --> 00:20:08,755
- Phil suspects
that the silent alarm
437
00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,422
might be the simplest kind
there is,
438
00:20:11,547 --> 00:20:14,088
a configuration
so out of date
439
00:20:14,213 --> 00:20:15,755
that they can't imagine
a well-protected
440
00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,588
bank would still use it.
441
00:20:18,797 --> 00:20:20,297
- They're unsure.
442
00:20:20,380 --> 00:20:23,463
It looks almost too simple
for what this heist is.
443
00:20:23,588 --> 00:20:25,672
- At this time, they expected
the bank had the kind of alarm
444
00:20:25,838 --> 00:20:28,547
that they would need all their
sophisticated tools to jump.
445
00:20:28,713 --> 00:20:31,630
But what if it has the
old style of alarm?
446
00:20:31,755 --> 00:20:34,505
- And Amil and James,
they look at one another,
447
00:20:34,588 --> 00:20:38,588
and look back at me--you
know, it's possible, you know?
448
00:20:38,713 --> 00:20:40,505
♪ ♪
449
00:20:40,630 --> 00:20:43,338
- After dark on
day two, the crew
450
00:20:43,463 --> 00:20:45,338
hikes back across
the golf course
451
00:20:45,463 --> 00:20:48,505
to the bank to see if
they can salvage the job.
452
00:20:48,672 --> 00:20:50,380
- Considering the Cleveland
mob indicates
453
00:20:50,505 --> 00:20:52,005
that there might be
Nixon campaign funds
454
00:20:52,172 --> 00:20:53,963
in the bank,
455
00:20:54,047 --> 00:20:56,463
they're thinking to themselves,
can it really be this simple?
456
00:20:56,588 --> 00:21:00,172
- The team is risking
30 million on Phil's guess,
457
00:21:00,297 --> 00:21:03,422
but before he tries
to jump or bypass
458
00:21:03,547 --> 00:21:07,338
the interior vault alarm,
Amil Dinsio needs
459
00:21:07,463 --> 00:21:09,380
to disable the exterior one.
460
00:21:09,547 --> 00:21:12,338
To do this, he takes
some inspiration
461
00:21:12,422 --> 00:21:14,630
from the local surf scene.
462
00:21:16,088 --> 00:21:18,172
- To beat the exterior alarm,
463
00:21:18,255 --> 00:21:22,505
Amil uses this liquid
surf foam
464
00:21:22,672 --> 00:21:25,505
that is used to prepare
surfboards.
465
00:21:25,588 --> 00:21:27,380
♪ ♪
466
00:21:27,505 --> 00:21:30,713
- Amil drills a hole in the
audible alarm and injects
467
00:21:30,838 --> 00:21:34,755
a fast-setting foam
that causes the alarm bell
468
00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,672
to seize up and not gong.
469
00:21:38,547 --> 00:21:40,547
- So they have the
exterior alarm covered;
470
00:21:40,672 --> 00:21:43,255
it's that silent alarm
they need to jump.
471
00:21:43,380 --> 00:21:44,672
It looks like
Phil was right;
472
00:21:44,838 --> 00:21:46,463
it looks like a closed-loop
circuit alarm.
473
00:21:46,588 --> 00:21:48,880
- And a closed-loop
circuit alarm can
474
00:21:49,005 --> 00:21:51,505
be bypassed by creating
a loop that keeps
475
00:21:51,672 --> 00:21:53,338
the circuit from breaking.
476
00:21:53,463 --> 00:21:55,005
- And the alarm system
thinks that
477
00:21:55,130 --> 00:21:56,838
it's still guarding the vault.
478
00:21:56,963 --> 00:21:59,755
- Because if you cut it, it'll
be an open circuit; that's
479
00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:01,755
when the alarm goes off.
480
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,672
- So they have to
keep the circuit going
481
00:22:03,797 --> 00:22:05,172
while they're both
cutting the wire,
482
00:22:05,338 --> 00:22:07,255
soldering it almost
instantaneously.
483
00:22:07,380 --> 00:22:10,172
[suspenseful music]
484
00:22:10,338 --> 00:22:13,963
♪ ♪
485
00:22:14,047 --> 00:22:17,505
- They retreat to the nearby
bushes to watch and wait.
486
00:22:17,630 --> 00:22:19,505
If they're right about
the silent alarm,
487
00:22:19,630 --> 00:22:21,630
they'll be heading
back into the bank.
488
00:22:21,713 --> 00:22:25,588
If they're wrong, they
might be heading to jail.
489
00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,047
After 20 minutes,
Harry radios them.
490
00:22:33,713 --> 00:22:37,255
No alarms, no police,
no problem...
491
00:22:37,380 --> 00:22:38,672
except one--
492
00:22:38,838 --> 00:22:40,755
Time.
493
00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:42,963
- So they're behind schedule,
the clock is ticking,
494
00:22:43,088 --> 00:22:45,880
they're under pressure,
there is a lot at stake.
495
00:22:48,463 --> 00:22:51,838
- The next step involves
backbreaking work.
496
00:22:51,963 --> 00:22:54,838
Before they can bring bags
of loot down from the roof,
497
00:22:54,922 --> 00:22:58,130
they need to bring
bags of sand up to it.
498
00:22:58,255 --> 00:23:01,922
- The sandbags not only serve
as a way to muffle the sound,
499
00:23:02,047 --> 00:23:05,380
but also to direct the
energy downward as they
500
00:23:05,505 --> 00:23:07,463
explode into the vault.
501
00:23:07,588 --> 00:23:11,505
- That is intensive work
that requires some muscles.
502
00:23:11,630 --> 00:23:13,755
They definitely had
muscle with them.
503
00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,047
- With sandbags
in place, the team
504
00:23:16,172 --> 00:23:19,797
is ready to blast down through
steel-reinforced concrete.
505
00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,713
It's the part of the plan
that separates the pros
506
00:23:22,838 --> 00:23:25,505
from the amateurs,
and if they're not careful,
507
00:23:25,630 --> 00:23:27,797
limbs from torsos.
508
00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,005
- So James,
our explosive expert, gets
509
00:23:30,130 --> 00:23:32,963
to work drilling holes
in the roof of the vault
510
00:23:33,047 --> 00:23:35,630
and filling it with
nitroglycerin putty.
511
00:23:35,755 --> 00:23:38,505
There's a very delicate
balance filling these holes.
512
00:23:38,630 --> 00:23:41,922
You need enough nitroglycerin
putty to get into the vault,
513
00:23:42,047 --> 00:23:45,255
but not too much so everything
crumbles or anyone hears you.
514
00:23:45,380 --> 00:23:47,172
- People think it
just blows up, but no.
515
00:23:47,297 --> 00:23:49,838
You put the dynamite
cap in and then
516
00:23:49,922 --> 00:23:52,005
put the wires
together to bring them
517
00:23:52,130 --> 00:23:53,838
all up to the top of the roof.
518
00:23:53,922 --> 00:23:56,672
This is a good way of
blowing the concrete out.
519
00:23:56,838 --> 00:23:58,380
- And then when
that's all hooked up
520
00:23:58,505 --> 00:23:59,838
together, got to know
what they're doing
521
00:24:00,005 --> 00:24:01,255
or they're going to
meet their maker.
522
00:24:01,380 --> 00:24:02,797
[muffled boom]
523
00:24:04,547 --> 00:24:06,255
[exciting music]
524
00:24:06,380 --> 00:24:08,588
- So this is the
moment of truth.
525
00:24:08,713 --> 00:24:11,005
They have these giant
sandbags, they've placed
526
00:24:11,130 --> 00:24:15,005
the explosives in the holes.
527
00:24:15,088 --> 00:24:18,588
- They're very excited
to get this going.
528
00:24:18,713 --> 00:24:21,130
They want this to
be a one-shot deal.
529
00:24:21,255 --> 00:24:24,463
- James looks at Amil, nods.
530
00:24:24,547 --> 00:24:27,297
James flips the switch.
531
00:24:27,380 --> 00:24:28,713
[click]
532
00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,547
Boom!
533
00:24:35,922 --> 00:24:38,422
- Sometimes the phrase
"blowing the roof off a place"
534
00:24:38,547 --> 00:24:41,005
is a figure of speech.
535
00:24:41,088 --> 00:24:43,047
On this job, it's real.
536
00:24:43,172 --> 00:24:47,505
The Dinsio's explosive
charges breach the vault roof
537
00:24:47,672 --> 00:24:50,505
of the United California
Bank in Laguna Niguel
538
00:24:50,588 --> 00:24:52,255
and they're in.
539
00:24:52,380 --> 00:24:53,755
- And it's incredible.
540
00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,088
You expect to hear
this loud explosion,
541
00:24:56,213 --> 00:24:57,963
and they felt it
in their bodies
542
00:24:58,047 --> 00:25:01,047
but all they heard
was a muffled thud.
543
00:25:01,172 --> 00:25:02,422
- And it's exciting.
544
00:25:02,547 --> 00:25:03,797
And it's great.
545
00:25:03,922 --> 00:25:05,005
But they're also
worried that maybe
546
00:25:05,130 --> 00:25:06,880
they've tripped something.
547
00:25:07,005 --> 00:25:08,005
So they have to make sure
that there's no alarms that
548
00:25:08,130 --> 00:25:09,547
are sounded,
that nobody has been
549
00:25:09,713 --> 00:25:11,755
notified of this
explosion or otherwise.
550
00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,838
They check in
back at the condo,
551
00:25:13,963 --> 00:25:17,005
make sure the police scanner
hasn't heard anything.
552
00:25:18,213 --> 00:25:20,463
- No one hears it.
553
00:25:20,547 --> 00:25:22,213
No one calls the police.
554
00:25:22,338 --> 00:25:25,047
No car alarms are going off.
555
00:25:25,172 --> 00:25:26,963
- So now it's showtime.
556
00:25:27,047 --> 00:25:29,213
They have to cut through
a few pieces of rebar
557
00:25:29,380 --> 00:25:30,463
and they're in the vault.
558
00:25:30,547 --> 00:25:32,880
♪ ♪
559
00:25:33,005 --> 00:25:35,922
- Dinsio's crew is now inside
what some mobsters call
560
00:25:36,047 --> 00:25:38,088
Nixon's vault.
561
00:25:38,213 --> 00:25:41,172
They still have to contend with
500 safe deposit boxes,
562
00:25:41,297 --> 00:25:43,463
but they're so close now
563
00:25:43,547 --> 00:25:46,088
they can practically
smell the money.
564
00:25:46,213 --> 00:25:47,963
♪ ♪
565
00:25:48,088 --> 00:25:50,713
- Whenever you got
into a vault or a safe
566
00:25:50,838 --> 00:25:53,547
was always exciting
because you find out what
567
00:25:53,672 --> 00:25:55,922
reward you had coming to you.
568
00:25:56,047 --> 00:26:00,172
- They see these
500 pristine security boxes,
569
00:26:00,297 --> 00:26:04,088
just Nixon's money
waiting for them to take it.
570
00:26:04,213 --> 00:26:07,672
♪ ♪
571
00:26:07,838 --> 00:26:09,630
Now, this is
really tough work.
572
00:26:09,755 --> 00:26:12,505
They have so many safety
deposit boxes to bust into,
573
00:26:12,672 --> 00:26:15,255
and not a lot of time.
574
00:26:15,380 --> 00:26:17,672
They're in this tiny vault.
The clock is ticking
575
00:26:17,755 --> 00:26:20,255
and they've got to get as
many of these as they can
576
00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:22,297
before their time is up.
577
00:26:22,422 --> 00:26:23,755
- Rocco comes in.
He's the muscle,
578
00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,338
and he's going to help them
open those
579
00:26:25,422 --> 00:26:27,172
500 safety deposit boxes.
580
00:26:27,297 --> 00:26:30,422
- There was a special tool
that was used on this job,
581
00:26:30,547 --> 00:26:33,588
and that tool was a snout
nose hammer,
582
00:26:33,713 --> 00:26:35,505
in which the end of the hammer
583
00:26:35,630 --> 00:26:37,505
was milled to the
circumference
584
00:26:37,630 --> 00:26:39,838
of the lock boxes.
585
00:26:39,963 --> 00:26:42,922
So you place that hammer
up against the lock,
586
00:26:43,047 --> 00:26:46,380
you take a sledge, and you
pound the lock through.
587
00:26:46,505 --> 00:26:48,630
And then you're in.
588
00:26:48,713 --> 00:26:51,213
[dynamic music]
589
00:26:51,380 --> 00:26:52,922
- Charlie and I
started working,
590
00:26:53,047 --> 00:26:57,005
hammering, beating on these
boxes, popping them open.
591
00:26:57,130 --> 00:26:59,338
- They're finding money,
they're finding jewelry,
592
00:26:59,463 --> 00:27:01,338
they're finding valuables.
593
00:27:01,463 --> 00:27:03,588
- It was the score
of a lifetime.
594
00:27:05,213 --> 00:27:06,713
- There's so much
money in this place,
595
00:27:06,838 --> 00:27:08,255
you know our hearts
are pounding,
596
00:27:08,380 --> 00:27:10,755
we're sweating there.
597
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,713
I mean, there's so much
that it's burning our eyes
598
00:27:13,838 --> 00:27:18,797
and because of the adrenaline,
the heat, and the work.
599
00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,547
- With less than five
hours to go before sunrise,
600
00:27:21,672 --> 00:27:26,005
the Dinsio gang works hard to
bag as much loot as possible.
601
00:27:26,130 --> 00:27:29,005
But delays have
run out the clock,
602
00:27:29,130 --> 00:27:33,338
and they still haven't found
the so-called Nixon cash.
603
00:27:33,463 --> 00:27:36,005
As dawn approaches,
604
00:27:36,088 --> 00:27:39,630
they have a $30 million
decision to make.
605
00:27:39,713 --> 00:27:41,672
- It comes to a point
where they have to decide,
606
00:27:41,755 --> 00:27:44,713
should we keep going or should
we get out while we can?
607
00:27:44,838 --> 00:27:46,963
- And by dawn, even though
they didn't get all the boxes
608
00:27:47,047 --> 00:27:49,755
they call it--
it's time to get out of there.
609
00:27:51,130 --> 00:27:53,172
- The Dinsio crew
retreats through
610
00:27:53,255 --> 00:27:56,630
the diminishing darkness
to the safety of the condo.
611
00:27:56,713 --> 00:27:59,047
The team spends all
day Sunday debating
612
00:27:59,172 --> 00:28:01,713
whether to take the
loot already in hand
613
00:28:01,838 --> 00:28:05,380
or risk one more night
in the vault for more.
614
00:28:05,505 --> 00:28:07,838
- The guys are on edge, but
they listen to the police
615
00:28:07,922 --> 00:28:09,255
scanner the whole next day.
616
00:28:09,380 --> 00:28:11,047
Nothing.
617
00:28:11,172 --> 00:28:14,005
Laguna Niguel is blissfully
unaware that their bank
618
00:28:14,130 --> 00:28:16,130
is being robbed.
619
00:28:16,213 --> 00:28:18,213
- They have a great crew and
they have a great opportunity,
620
00:28:18,338 --> 00:28:19,963
so they make their way back.
621
00:28:20,088 --> 00:28:24,130
[edgy music]
622
00:28:24,213 --> 00:28:27,880
- The crew decides going back
into the vault on Sunday night
623
00:28:28,005 --> 00:28:32,880
is less risky than going back
to the mob empty-handed.
624
00:28:33,838 --> 00:28:35,880
- There's no more cutting,
there's nothing left
625
00:28:36,005 --> 00:28:39,172
to blow up--they just
spend the whole night
626
00:28:39,255 --> 00:28:42,005
going through those boxes
and getting that loot.
627
00:28:42,088 --> 00:28:43,713
♪ ♪
628
00:28:43,838 --> 00:28:45,672
- They found a treasure trove.
629
00:28:45,755 --> 00:28:50,213
- It's euphoric and sweaty, and
then all of a sudden they get
630
00:28:50,338 --> 00:28:51,380
a call on the walkie talkie.
631
00:28:51,505 --> 00:28:54,713
♪ ♪
632
00:28:54,838 --> 00:28:55,922
- James says, quiet, quiet.
633
00:28:56,047 --> 00:28:57,922
We all stop, what, what?
634
00:28:58,047 --> 00:29:00,005
He's pointing to the walkie.
635
00:29:00,172 --> 00:29:02,005
And Mulligan says,
somebody just
636
00:29:02,130 --> 00:29:03,963
pull up in front of the place.
637
00:29:05,838 --> 00:29:07,547
- It gets worse.
638
00:29:07,672 --> 00:29:10,213
Mulligan lets them know that
somebody got out of the car
639
00:29:10,338 --> 00:29:12,338
and is heading
towards the bank.
640
00:29:12,463 --> 00:29:13,630
And they're thinking the worst.
641
00:29:13,713 --> 00:29:16,130
- I said, oh s***.
642
00:29:16,213 --> 00:29:19,005
Then Charlie says,
he's coming inside.
643
00:29:19,088 --> 00:29:21,880
We're just beside
ourselves now.
644
00:29:22,005 --> 00:29:23,880
What are we going to do here?
645
00:29:24,005 --> 00:29:27,005
He comes inside and
we're all listening
646
00:29:27,172 --> 00:29:29,463
because we don't understand.
647
00:29:29,547 --> 00:29:32,755
We've got the alarms
shut down and everything.
648
00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:34,755
What the hell is going on here?
649
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,255
- And outside of
the vault they hear footsteps,
650
00:29:37,380 --> 00:29:40,755
footsteps walking
slowly around the bank.
651
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,422
They are trying
to make no sound
652
00:29:43,547 --> 00:29:45,213
at all if at all possible.
653
00:29:45,338 --> 00:29:46,463
[coughing]
654
00:29:46,588 --> 00:29:47,755
- It's so quiet.
655
00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,338
Next thing we know,
Charlie coughs.
656
00:29:50,422 --> 00:29:52,380
We turn to look at him.
657
00:29:52,505 --> 00:29:54,380
[coughing]
658
00:29:54,505 --> 00:29:56,630
♪ ♪
659
00:29:56,713 --> 00:29:58,172
What the [bleep]?
660
00:30:02,213 --> 00:30:04,005
- Dinsio Crew is finally
getting their hands
661
00:30:04,088 --> 00:30:08,755
on the real money when
an uninvited visitor arrives.
662
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:10,838
And at the most
pressure-packed moment
663
00:30:11,005 --> 00:30:14,713
of the heist,
Charlie Broeckel chokes,
664
00:30:14,838 --> 00:30:16,838
literally.
665
00:30:16,963 --> 00:30:19,755
- Amil and James look at him,
too, in disbelief.
666
00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,922
Coughing--now we're
listening real hard.
667
00:30:22,047 --> 00:30:24,380
We're listening to see
if the guy might have heard us.
668
00:30:24,505 --> 00:30:28,213
[suspenseful music]
669
00:30:28,338 --> 00:30:30,338
- Keep in mind,
they're in a confined space,
670
00:30:30,463 --> 00:30:33,672
and there's particles of dust,
particles of concrete,
671
00:30:33,838 --> 00:30:37,047
and he cannot stop coughing.
672
00:30:37,172 --> 00:30:38,880
- Then Charlie coughs again.
673
00:30:39,005 --> 00:30:40,338
I was in disbelief.
674
00:30:40,422 --> 00:30:42,505
I look at him, get
the [bleep] outta here.
675
00:30:42,630 --> 00:30:44,088
You know?
676
00:30:44,213 --> 00:30:46,797
He's trying to climb around
to get up on the stool
677
00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:48,755
to get up on top
of the cabinets
678
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,755
so he can go up
out of the hole.
679
00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:53,505
And he put his feet
in our hands
680
00:30:53,588 --> 00:30:57,255
and we just like threw him
all the way up to the hole
681
00:30:57,380 --> 00:30:59,172
to get him out of there,
you know?
682
00:30:59,297 --> 00:31:01,380
♪ ♪
683
00:31:01,505 --> 00:31:05,172
- And then they wait
for 30 agonizing minutes.
684
00:31:05,297 --> 00:31:06,963
♪ ♪
685
00:31:07,047 --> 00:31:08,838
Finally, Mulligan
gets on the walkie.
686
00:31:08,963 --> 00:31:11,297
The person has left.
687
00:31:11,380 --> 00:31:14,797
Harry chimes in, there's no
chatter on the police scanner.
688
00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:16,380
They gather up as much loot
as they can,
689
00:31:16,505 --> 00:31:18,838
and they get out of there.
690
00:31:18,922 --> 00:31:22,172
- So after the guy came out
and he got in his car
691
00:31:22,255 --> 00:31:25,755
and he took off, well,
we figured we were good to go.
692
00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,713
- The heist team has
miraculously pulled off
693
00:31:28,838 --> 00:31:31,172
the biggest haul
of their careers.
694
00:31:31,297 --> 00:31:33,463
With sunrise minutes away,
695
00:31:33,547 --> 00:31:37,880
it's time to make
those millions disappear.
696
00:31:38,005 --> 00:31:40,130
- They give themselves
extra time
697
00:31:40,213 --> 00:31:43,172
by giving a coup de grace
to the vault door.
698
00:31:43,297 --> 00:31:46,005
They disable the door
by driving something
699
00:31:46,088 --> 00:31:47,922
into the locking mechanism.
700
00:31:48,047 --> 00:31:50,422
- Amil Dinsio showing
his expertise,
701
00:31:50,547 --> 00:31:53,672
he's able to damage
the vault lock from the inside,
702
00:31:53,755 --> 00:31:55,713
so that
when Monday morning arrives
703
00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,005
and employees return to work,
they're not going to be able
704
00:31:58,130 --> 00:32:00,505
to get inside this vault
right away.
705
00:32:00,630 --> 00:32:01,922
♪ ♪
706
00:32:02,047 --> 00:32:03,380
The gang is cutting it close,
707
00:32:03,505 --> 00:32:05,755
so this is going
to buy them more time
708
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,672
to hopefully get away safely.
709
00:32:08,838 --> 00:32:12,922
- I felt like Santa Claus when
I was going back to the condo.
710
00:32:13,047 --> 00:32:14,130
- So they get back
to the condo,
711
00:32:14,213 --> 00:32:18,338
and it's the first time
seeing what they got.
712
00:32:18,422 --> 00:32:20,047
And it is a fortune.
713
00:32:20,172 --> 00:32:22,172
And according to Amil Dinsio,
714
00:32:22,255 --> 00:32:24,338
they got the Nixon millions
and more.
715
00:32:24,463 --> 00:32:28,047
- When I pressed Amil
for details, he smiled.
716
00:32:28,172 --> 00:32:30,588
- It proved out
to be a great job.
717
00:32:30,713 --> 00:32:33,047
It was $30 million,
718
00:32:33,172 --> 00:32:34,922
you know,
can't ask for more than that
719
00:32:35,047 --> 00:32:36,338
when you're a burglar.
720
00:32:36,463 --> 00:32:39,213
By the time I went
to lay down to sleep,
721
00:32:39,338 --> 00:32:41,755
Charlie already had
$20 million,
722
00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,130
and there was that much more,
if not more,
723
00:32:44,213 --> 00:32:46,005
left to be tabulated.
724
00:32:46,088 --> 00:32:47,838
There was around $30 million
to $40 million
725
00:32:47,922 --> 00:32:49,297
that I could see.
726
00:32:49,380 --> 00:32:54,630
♪ ♪
727
00:32:54,713 --> 00:32:57,255
- And by the time the bank
opens on Monday morning,
728
00:32:57,380 --> 00:33:00,380
the crew is not even
in Southern California.
729
00:33:00,505 --> 00:33:02,922
The Cleveland guys are
flying home,
730
00:33:03,047 --> 00:33:06,338
and Amil, James,
and Chuck are heading to Vegas
731
00:33:06,463 --> 00:33:07,463
to fence the loot.
732
00:33:07,547 --> 00:33:09,213
[phone ringing]
733
00:33:09,338 --> 00:33:11,172
- I recall sometime
around mid-morning,
734
00:33:11,338 --> 00:33:13,130
my partner at the time says,
735
00:33:13,213 --> 00:33:16,172
I just got a call
from United California Bank.
736
00:33:16,297 --> 00:33:18,588
He said, they told me they
can't get into their vault.
737
00:33:18,713 --> 00:33:20,172
We think we need you down here.
738
00:33:20,297 --> 00:33:23,380
There's a hole in the roof.
739
00:33:23,505 --> 00:33:25,047
Jim says,
don't touch anything.
740
00:33:25,172 --> 00:33:27,130
We'll be right down.
741
00:33:27,255 --> 00:33:29,338
I drove down to the bank.
742
00:33:29,422 --> 00:33:31,797
I go over to the vault,
and I'm looking down.
743
00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:35,005
You looked right
into the vault down below.
744
00:33:35,172 --> 00:33:38,172
You knew right then and there,
this is a career case.
745
00:33:38,297 --> 00:33:41,505
♪ ♪
746
00:33:41,630 --> 00:33:45,630
- Initially, investigators fear
the thieves stole $50,000.
747
00:33:45,755 --> 00:33:50,005
But reported losses soon passed
$2 million,
748
00:33:50,088 --> 00:33:53,297
$4 million, $8 million.
749
00:33:53,422 --> 00:33:56,255
That's when the FBI realizes
750
00:33:56,380 --> 00:34:01,047
this heist is unlike
any they've ever seen.
751
00:34:01,213 --> 00:34:02,755
- We told them it was
going to be a big one.
752
00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,130
We're going to have
to have manpower.
753
00:34:05,255 --> 00:34:09,338
- I was working bank robberies
in the Los Angeles office
754
00:34:09,463 --> 00:34:12,213
at the time the Laguna Niguel
burglary occurred.
755
00:34:12,380 --> 00:34:14,588
And I got involved
shortly thereafter
756
00:34:14,713 --> 00:34:19,172
when we realized that the loss
was substantially greater.
757
00:34:19,255 --> 00:34:21,005
- The FBI realizes
this is a big deal,
758
00:34:21,130 --> 00:34:23,338
so they put eight agents
on the case.
759
00:34:23,422 --> 00:34:25,755
- J. Edgar Hoover is
the boss of the FBI
760
00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:27,338
during this time period.
761
00:34:27,422 --> 00:34:30,755
Mr. Hoover was a very
motivated guy,
762
00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:33,463
and therefore he motivated us.
763
00:34:33,547 --> 00:34:35,255
- Then J. Edgar Hoover gets
involved
764
00:34:35,380 --> 00:34:37,172
and the number
of agents jumps from eight
765
00:34:37,297 --> 00:34:40,505
to 125 in the first few weeks.
766
00:34:40,588 --> 00:34:43,755
- Hoover personally committing
the FBI to the case
767
00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:46,713
stokes rumors about
what might have been stolen
768
00:34:46,838 --> 00:34:49,505
from the sleepy little bank
in Laguna Niguel.
769
00:34:49,588 --> 00:34:52,088
2,000 miles away,
770
00:34:52,213 --> 00:34:55,172
the crew is confident
they made a clean getaway.
771
00:34:55,255 --> 00:34:58,213
So when a Amil Dinsio
gets a new tip,
772
00:34:58,338 --> 00:35:00,463
it's too tempting to pass up.
773
00:35:00,547 --> 00:35:02,797
- They decide
to do another heist.
774
00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:05,130
This one is in Lordstown, Ohio,
775
00:35:05,255 --> 00:35:08,172
at a bank across the street
from a GM factory.
776
00:35:08,297 --> 00:35:09,755
I talked to Dinsio about this,
777
00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,005
and I was like, why would
you do this at this point?
778
00:35:12,130 --> 00:35:13,338
You just got all this money.
779
00:35:13,463 --> 00:35:15,005
They decided a haul like this
780
00:35:15,172 --> 00:35:17,588
doesn't come around often,
let's do it again.
781
00:35:17,713 --> 00:35:20,172
- I don't believe we should
have made another move
782
00:35:20,338 --> 00:35:22,922
on that Lordstown bank
783
00:35:23,047 --> 00:35:25,005
because we had
so much already,
784
00:35:25,088 --> 00:35:27,922
we didn't need that job.
785
00:35:28,047 --> 00:35:29,922
I had a bad feeling about it.
786
00:35:30,047 --> 00:35:32,672
- There's a lot
of similarities in ammo,
787
00:35:32,797 --> 00:35:34,880
method of operation,
between the two.
788
00:35:35,047 --> 00:35:36,797
So much so
that it was pretty clear
789
00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:41,005
that our players were involved
in that bank burglary.
790
00:35:41,088 --> 00:35:44,297
♪ ♪
791
00:35:44,380 --> 00:35:46,672
I concluded that we needed
to figure out
792
00:35:46,797 --> 00:35:50,297
how the bad guys got
to Laguna Niguel, California.
793
00:35:50,380 --> 00:35:53,005
We had identified
a large group of people.
794
00:35:53,130 --> 00:35:55,380
We asked the major hubs
for airlines
795
00:35:55,547 --> 00:35:58,880
to run all of these names
through their system.
796
00:35:59,005 --> 00:36:01,963
We found subsequently
the five names
797
00:36:02,088 --> 00:36:05,713
we were looking for
within a couple of days.
798
00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:07,380
- I admired the job they did.
799
00:36:07,505 --> 00:36:09,172
They were fantastic
bank burglars
800
00:36:09,338 --> 00:36:11,838
but lousy criminals.
801
00:36:12,005 --> 00:36:16,380
- The phone records gave us
a witness named Earl Dawson
802
00:36:16,547 --> 00:36:19,005
who turned out to be living
in Tustin, California,
803
00:36:19,088 --> 00:36:22,047
and a friend of Mulligan's.
804
00:36:22,213 --> 00:36:24,338
- I got the call
late in the afternoon
805
00:36:24,422 --> 00:36:27,338
to check out
Earl Randall Dawson.
806
00:36:27,422 --> 00:36:30,005
But the thing that really
hit me is his place of birth
807
00:36:30,130 --> 00:36:31,422
was Youngstown, Ohio.
808
00:36:31,547 --> 00:36:35,505
And you don't have to be an FBI
agent to say that's a clue.
809
00:36:35,630 --> 00:36:39,047
- Frank Calley and his partner
go to Earl Dawson's residence
810
00:36:39,213 --> 00:36:42,422
and show him photos
of the usual suspects.
811
00:36:42,547 --> 00:36:45,380
He immediately picks
out Chuck Mulligan
812
00:36:45,505 --> 00:36:48,297
and says his old friend
from Ohio asked
813
00:36:48,422 --> 00:36:52,088
if he could park a car in
Earl's garage for a few weeks.
814
00:36:52,213 --> 00:36:54,088
[phone ringing]
815
00:36:54,213 --> 00:36:55,755
- While I'm talking to him,
the phone rings
816
00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:57,297
and he picks it up.
817
00:36:57,380 --> 00:36:58,338
He looks at me, and he--
818
00:36:58,463 --> 00:37:00,172
just a sec,
I'll be right with you.
819
00:37:00,338 --> 00:37:01,838
He says, it's Mulligan.
820
00:37:01,922 --> 00:37:05,588
♪ ♪
821
00:37:09,588 --> 00:37:10,922
- June 1972,
822
00:37:11,047 --> 00:37:12,630
more than nine weeks after one
823
00:37:12,713 --> 00:37:14,422
of the largest heists
in history,
824
00:37:14,547 --> 00:37:17,047
the Feds get one
of the most implausible
825
00:37:17,213 --> 00:37:18,255
breaks of their careers.
826
00:37:18,380 --> 00:37:19,672
[phone ringing]
827
00:37:19,755 --> 00:37:21,422
They're interviewing
an associate
828
00:37:21,547 --> 00:37:25,005
of Dinsio's gang
when Chuck Mulligan phones
829
00:37:25,130 --> 00:37:27,547
to discuss getting rid
of evidence.
830
00:37:27,713 --> 00:37:30,297
- I said, do you mind if we
listen in on the conversation?
831
00:37:30,380 --> 00:37:33,338
Mulligan says,
hey, Earl, how you been?
832
00:37:33,463 --> 00:37:36,255
Then he said, I'm flying out
to LA tonight, get there late,
833
00:37:36,380 --> 00:37:37,963
and then I'm going
to come down to your house.
834
00:37:38,047 --> 00:37:40,672
I got to get rid of the car
in the garage, he says.
835
00:37:40,755 --> 00:37:42,505
Have the FBI
or anybody been around?
836
00:37:42,630 --> 00:37:44,922
And he said, no, nobody's
been around down here.
837
00:37:45,047 --> 00:37:45,838
He says, are you sure?
838
00:37:46,005 --> 00:37:47,047
He said,
no, nobody's come around.
839
00:37:47,172 --> 00:37:48,588
[suspenseful music]
840
00:37:48,713 --> 00:37:52,005
And I said,
this guy we can trust.
841
00:37:52,130 --> 00:37:54,172
- Could the car in the garage
842
00:37:54,255 --> 00:37:56,380
Mulligan is coming
to get rid of
843
00:37:56,505 --> 00:37:59,088
be the vehicle used
in the heist?
844
00:37:59,213 --> 00:38:01,463
Calley tells the FBI bosses
845
00:38:01,547 --> 00:38:03,588
that a suspect is coming
to him,
846
00:38:03,713 --> 00:38:06,838
and he quickly gets a warrant
to search the vehicle.
847
00:38:06,963 --> 00:38:08,505
♪ ♪
848
00:38:08,672 --> 00:38:11,088
- They pop open the trunk
and they find ski masks,
849
00:38:11,213 --> 00:38:13,422
they find guns,
and they find the tools
850
00:38:13,547 --> 00:38:16,088
that were used
in the Laguna Niguel heist.
851
00:38:16,213 --> 00:38:18,797
- It was clear
that everything in the car,
852
00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:23,005
everything in the trunk had
been wiped down significantly,
853
00:38:23,172 --> 00:38:26,547
with the exception of
a fingerprint behind the mirror
854
00:38:26,713 --> 00:38:30,213
when somebody apparently
was adjusting the mirror.
855
00:38:30,338 --> 00:38:31,797
- Mulligan shows up.
856
00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:34,005
I walked up, said, Mulligan?
And he said, yes.
857
00:38:34,088 --> 00:38:35,505
The FBI.
858
00:38:35,630 --> 00:38:38,172
He said, what?
I said, you're under arrest.
859
00:38:38,255 --> 00:38:39,713
- A true professional,
860
00:38:39,838 --> 00:38:42,505
Mulligan doesn't
rat out his crew.
861
00:38:42,588 --> 00:38:47,255
Even when FBI agents locate
the condo Harry Barber rented,
862
00:38:47,380 --> 00:38:49,380
the heist team isn't worried.
863
00:38:49,547 --> 00:38:51,797
They're confident
they've made quite literally
864
00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:53,505
a clean getaway.
865
00:38:53,672 --> 00:38:57,880
- That place was wiped
from ceiling to floor
866
00:38:58,005 --> 00:39:01,755
of anything that could
possibly be evidence,
867
00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:05,963
anything, with the exception
of the dishwasher.
868
00:39:06,047 --> 00:39:07,880
♪ ♪
869
00:39:08,005 --> 00:39:10,005
Five people were identified
from the fingerprints
870
00:39:10,172 --> 00:39:13,338
on dirty dishes,
in that someone forgot
871
00:39:13,422 --> 00:39:15,338
to push the Start button.
872
00:39:15,463 --> 00:39:17,588
Fingerprints will
get you every time.
873
00:39:17,713 --> 00:39:19,338
[laughing]
874
00:39:19,463 --> 00:39:21,713
- They knew who did it,
they knew.
875
00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:25,338
They just couldn't figure out
how they were going to jam us.
876
00:39:25,422 --> 00:39:27,463
And that's why they were
on this like night and day.
877
00:39:27,588 --> 00:39:28,547
- They had a great plan.
878
00:39:28,672 --> 00:39:30,838
They had the appropriate
team players.
879
00:39:30,922 --> 00:39:34,213
They had the right bank.
They had everything.
880
00:39:34,338 --> 00:39:35,547
However, they were
above it all.
881
00:39:35,672 --> 00:39:37,797
Now let's go to Lordstown.
882
00:39:37,922 --> 00:39:41,713
- FBI agents in Ohio
arrest Amil Dinsio,
883
00:39:41,838 --> 00:39:43,463
and in a search of his house,
884
00:39:43,547 --> 00:39:45,880
find rare coins
belonging to one
885
00:39:46,005 --> 00:39:49,172
of the United California Bank
customers.
886
00:39:49,255 --> 00:39:52,172
Agents also find cash
they can trace
887
00:39:52,297 --> 00:39:54,088
to the Lordstown bank job.
888
00:39:54,213 --> 00:39:58,047
From there, they focus
on the so-called super thief,
889
00:39:58,172 --> 00:39:59,463
Phil Christopher.
890
00:39:59,547 --> 00:40:01,505
- The FBI come to my home,
891
00:40:01,672 --> 00:40:05,713
and they came there to arrest
me for a probation violation.
892
00:40:05,838 --> 00:40:07,963
And sure enough,
because I didn't have
893
00:40:08,088 --> 00:40:10,630
the phony ID that day
I went on the airplane--
894
00:40:10,755 --> 00:40:12,088
they would have never got me.
895
00:40:12,213 --> 00:40:14,713
Never would have got me.
896
00:40:14,838 --> 00:40:20,505
- In October 1972,
215 days after the heist,
897
00:40:20,630 --> 00:40:23,213
trials are held for both
the Laguna Niguel
898
00:40:23,338 --> 00:40:25,422
and Lordstown jobs.
899
00:40:25,547 --> 00:40:27,630
For all their meticulous
planning,
900
00:40:27,713 --> 00:40:30,297
the Dinsio crew didn't
plan on this.
901
00:40:30,422 --> 00:40:33,213
- Amil Dinsio,
Charles Mulligan,
902
00:40:33,338 --> 00:40:35,505
and Phil Christopher are
convicted
903
00:40:35,588 --> 00:40:37,838
and sentenced to 20 years
in prison.
904
00:40:37,963 --> 00:40:40,838
James is convicted and gets
sentenced to 15 years.
905
00:40:41,005 --> 00:40:43,005
Harry Barber is a fugitive
for eight years
906
00:40:43,130 --> 00:40:44,838
before he's caught.
907
00:40:44,963 --> 00:40:46,672
- But what about
the huge haul taken
908
00:40:46,797 --> 00:40:48,922
from
the United California Bank?
909
00:40:49,047 --> 00:40:51,922
Whatever happened
to what Amil Dinsio insisted
910
00:40:52,047 --> 00:40:53,672
were Nixon's millions?
911
00:40:53,755 --> 00:40:55,672
♪ ♪
912
00:40:55,755 --> 00:40:58,755
- After a heist of $20 million,
even $30 million or more,
913
00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:01,630
only a small fraction
was ever recovered.
914
00:41:01,713 --> 00:41:03,838
- I don't think there's
a good final estimate.
915
00:41:03,963 --> 00:41:07,547
I personally believe it's
$50 million, plus or minus.
916
00:41:07,672 --> 00:41:09,088
- But the feds, they recovered
917
00:41:09,213 --> 00:41:11,630
somewhere between $2 million
and $4 million.
918
00:41:11,755 --> 00:41:13,755
There is a lot more money
out there.
919
00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:15,463
According to the burglars,
it's something
920
00:41:15,547 --> 00:41:17,172
between $12 million
and $30 million.
921
00:41:17,297 --> 00:41:20,338
Where's the rest of the money?
922
00:41:20,463 --> 00:41:22,505
- Somebody out there got rich
off this heist.
923
00:41:22,588 --> 00:41:25,172
[jazzy music]
924
00:41:25,297 --> 00:41:28,880
- For some, the missing
money just reinforces
925
00:41:29,005 --> 00:41:31,130
the Dinsio gang's
reputation...
926
00:41:31,213 --> 00:41:32,713
[explosion blasts]
927
00:41:32,838 --> 00:41:34,922
As the best heist crew ever.
928
00:41:35,047 --> 00:41:37,630
- I haven't seen
anybody compare to us.
929
00:41:37,713 --> 00:41:39,838
You tell me if we're the best.
I know we are.
930
00:41:39,922 --> 00:41:42,880
Even the FBI said
we were the best.
931
00:41:43,005 --> 00:41:45,547
- That burglary just
blew everybody away.
932
00:41:45,713 --> 00:41:47,463
They were meticulous.
933
00:41:47,547 --> 00:41:49,630
This is the biggest
bank burglary in history
934
00:41:49,713 --> 00:41:51,672
at that time in America
935
00:41:51,797 --> 00:41:55,838
with a very sophisticated plan
and some major bad guys.
936
00:41:55,963 --> 00:41:59,505
♪ ♪
937
00:41:59,588 --> 00:42:02,672
- In the case of the United
California Bank burglary,
938
00:42:02,797 --> 00:42:04,963
there are still
unanswered questions.
939
00:42:05,047 --> 00:42:08,547
Was labor leader Jimmy Hoffa
really the catalyst?
940
00:42:08,672 --> 00:42:12,422
Was he trying, as mastermind
Amil Dinsio insists,
941
00:42:12,547 --> 00:42:15,338
to get back what he considered
his money?
942
00:42:15,463 --> 00:42:17,755
Whatever the answers,
the ingenious plan,
943
00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:21,380
bold execution, and millions
of dollars associated
944
00:42:21,505 --> 00:42:24,255
with the United California Bank
job place it
945
00:42:24,380 --> 00:42:26,838
among history's
greatest heists.
946
00:42:26,963 --> 00:42:32,797
♪ ♪