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The Pierre is one
of New York's
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most exclusive
and expensive hotels.
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You had all
the richest people
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all staying
under a single roof.
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It was like
the perfect target.
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Its well-heeled guests
include the biggest names
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in finance, fashion, and film.
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One would see people
like Aristotle Onassis there,
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J. Paul Getty,
Elizabeth Taylor.
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It was that kind of place.
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But for five
ambitious crooks,
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The Pierre means
something more,
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a chance to get rich quick
if they can pull off
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one of history's
most daring heists.
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Bobby hit about 25 hotels,
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but he wants
that one big score.
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There's gonna be more money,
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but there's also gonna be
more security,
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and that brings more problems.
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You could plan a robbery
for years,
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and things
will still go wrong.
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The masterminds
behind every great heist
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see what most people don't.
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Risking everything to pull off
the score of a lifetime,
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it takes a bold plan,
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the right team,
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and the skill to stay
one step ahead of the law.
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It's 1972, and Manhattan
is a tale of two cities.
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Downtown, crime and poverty.
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Uptown, the city's wealthiest
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hobnob with celebrities
and luxury hotels,
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flaunting their wealth.
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The line between
the haves and the have nots
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could not be clearer,
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and that leads to an uptick
in violent crime.
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There were shootings
in the streets.
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There was gangs.
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And bad guys thought
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they can get away with murder
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because they actually did.
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It really was kind of
a dark time for the city,
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but then on the other hand,
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you kind of had
all these celebrities
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flocking to New York.
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One of their favorite spots
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is an infamous hotel,
The Pierre.
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At The Pierre Hotel itself,
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you had Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino.
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They were doing
their fashion shows there.
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It was even
where Joe Frazier was staying
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when Muhammad Ali called him
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and asked him for a rematch.
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It was that kind of place.
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To rent a apartment there,
for instance,
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it cost the equivalent
of about $34,000 a month.
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So you can imagine the luxury.
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On any given night,
this roster of riches
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makes a tempting target
for ambitious thieves,
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which is why The Pierre has
more security
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than almost any other hotel
in New York,
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starting with its vault.
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Back in the 1970s,
when you checked into a hotel
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and you had jewels,
you had cash,
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what you would typically do
was put it
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in the safe deposit boxes
owned by the hotel.
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The vault
at The Pierre Hotel
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is made to look ominous.
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They don't want it to look
welcoming to thieves.
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It's huge. It's steel.
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It's not Fort Knox,
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but you're not gonna
get through it
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with a crowbar either.
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12-gauge steel,
about 300 pounds.
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The second that you open
the vault door,
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it triggers the alarm,
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and it's incumbent then
upon the employee
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to turn off the alarm
within 10 seconds.
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Otherwise, the police
are automatically called.
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Inside the vault,
there's 208 boxes,
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and inside those boxes,
some very expensive jewelry
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from some high-dollar people.
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A safe deposit box has
a design
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where there's two keys.
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You have one key
for the manager
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and one key for the owner
of the box,
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so it takes two keys
to get into that box.
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Unless you have
the proper tools,
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you have to use a hammer
and a crowbar.
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And trust me,
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it's real hard to get
into a security box.
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You can't get anywhere
near this fault
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without encountering
a security guard.
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Unlike many hotels
of that era,
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The Pierre Hotel has guards
patrolling 24 hours a day.
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Getting past the guards
and into the vault
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is only half the challenge.
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With hundreds of guests
and dozens of staff
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roaming The Pierre
at all hours,
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the likelihood of
getting caught is enormous.
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Even so, one experienced thief
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is dreaming up a plan to net
the score of a lifetime.
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He just has to get
out of jail.
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Bobby Comfort is
a lifelong criminal.
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He is fearless.
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He starts stealing at the age
of seven years old.
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By 13, he's in jail.
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But Bobby is
incredibly intelligent.
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He has a history
of getting plea deals
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knocked down to lesser time.
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In 1967,
Bobby is in Attica prison,
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and he gets a number
of newspapers.
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But he is interested in
some of the gossip columns
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in the "New York Daily News,"
particularly.
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When Bobby is in prison,
he was doing
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what a lot of guys do.
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They research their next job.
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He's looking to see what kind
of jewelry they wear.
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He's looking to see
where they're staying.
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That's very important.
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They'll say, oh,
they're at The Pierre Hotel
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or they're at
the Ritz Carlton.
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You're gonna always look
for an opportunity.
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Comfort spends two years
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planning the perfect heist
from his prison cell.
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He knows robbing The Pierre
is too big a job to do solo.
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When he's released
in April 1969,
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he starts looking
for a partner.
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He gets introduced
to a fellow professional thief
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named Sammy Nalo
through a mutual friend.
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Sammy Nalo is basically known
as the tool man.
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He uses his hammers.
He uses chisels.
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He can break into anything.
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Sammy needed
Bobby's people skills,
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and Bobby needed
Sammy's mechanical skills.
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These two guys are a match
made in heaven.
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Bobby convinces Sammy
that they should team up
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and go after
a lucrative untapped target,
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hotel safe deposit boxes.
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What many people didn't know
is that there's more money
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in The Pierre Hotel
"security boxes"
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than at many banks
in the country.
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Before hitting The Pierre,
Comfort wants practice.
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So between 1969 and 1970,
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he and Sammy launch
a string of robberies
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across Manhattan's
mid-sized hotels.
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In the 1970s,
hotels were the perfect place
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for Bobby and Sammy to hit
for burglaries
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because they didn't have
security cameras.
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They had security guards,
but not too many,
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because
they didn't wanna appear
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like they were a fortress.
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And the staff themselves
were trained
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to really welcome guests,
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not suspect them
of being thieves,
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so it was kind of
the ideal target.
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Sammy and Bobby follow
the same approach each time.
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They arrive
in the middle of the night.
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They have suitcases.
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They act as guests.
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They wear fake facial hair.
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They wear fake noses.
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Sammy typically wears
a wig as well,
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because he's bald.
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Then at gunpoint,
they force the manager
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or a night clerk
to open the vault.
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When the robbery
is taking place,
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Sammy's just in there with
his hammer and his chisels,
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and he's busting open
absolutely everything
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and grabbing what's in it.
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In the first year,
Bobby hit about 25 hotels.
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But he wants
that one big score.
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But first,
Bobby wants more practice.
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He ups the ante
by planning a heist
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at a bigger hotel,
the Regency.
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Up until this point,
Bobby and Sammy have made
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about $100,000.
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The largest hotels
that they've robbed
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are the Sherry Netherland,
with 100 rooms,
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and the Carlyle,
with 190 rooms.
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With The Pierre Hotel
at 714 rooms,
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that's over twice the size
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of any hotel
they've ever robbed.
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The Regency Hotel
is 390 rooms,
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perfect practice run.
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00:08:01,458 --> 00:08:04,333
Although the Regency has
no security guards,
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it's big enough to need
a third man.
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So Comfort and Nalo decide
to hire another gun,
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a man nicknamed Doc,
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and dedicate more time
to surveillance.
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Three days before robbing
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the Regency Hotel,
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Bobby checked in,
and he really did that
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to look around,
see who's coming and going.
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Is it a place where
there's more or less staff?
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Casing a robbery is the most
important thing you can do.
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You have to know where
everybody is at all times.
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If you don't, you could have
an unexpected surprise.
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Confident he knows
everything he needs to
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from when the trash goes out
to how the windows get washed,
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Comfort is ready to strike.
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Their biggest
practice heist yet is on.
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In the middle of the night
on August 5, 1970,
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Sammy, Bobby, and one other man
arrive with their suitcases,
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and they assume
their positions.
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These guys go
into the Regency,
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and what they do
to the employees
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00:09:06,208 --> 00:09:08,208
is they tape their eyes
and their mouths shut.
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Why?
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Because they don't want them
identifying them.
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As Bobby and Sammy take down
the Regency Hotel,
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they're practicing the tactics
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00:09:16,958 --> 00:09:19,125
that they're gonna employ
at The Pierre.
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One man is holding
the hostages at gunpoint.
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Sammy goes directly
to the safe deposit boxes,
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and Bobby mans the front desk.
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00:09:27,208 --> 00:09:30,667
Sammy is banging away
at the safe deposit boxes,
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00:09:30,792 --> 00:09:32,542
one after the other
after the other
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00:09:32,667 --> 00:09:34,917
with a crowbar
and some other tools.
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So the phone rings.
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Bobby answers.
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It's a woman in the hotel.
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She's calling about the racket,
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and if they don't stop it,
she's gonna call the cops.
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00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:47,000
So Bobby's freaking out
a little bit.
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He goes to Sammy.
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He's like, "Hey, enough.
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00:09:49,792 --> 00:09:51,667
We gotta get what we got
and get out of here."
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00:09:51,792 --> 00:09:53,875
Sammy's like, "No, no, no.
I'm not leaving."
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00:09:54,042 --> 00:09:56,500
They've been at it
for nearly two hours,
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00:09:56,625 --> 00:09:59,667
but Sammy has only opened
17 deposit boxes
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for a total of six grand,
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00:10:01,750 --> 00:10:03,958
not exactly the big score
they hoped for.
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Bobby notices one
of the safe deposit cabinets
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00:10:07,458 --> 00:10:08,875
isn't attached to the wall.
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If they can find a way
to take it with them,
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they'll have all the time in
the world to break into it,
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but they'd need a dolly
to do that.
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Then mastermind Bobby
gets inspired.
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So Bobby remembers that
when he was casing the place,
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00:10:23,250 --> 00:10:25,417
every day, he saw a window
washer across the street.
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So he gets an idea.
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He goes across the street
to the window washer,
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and he doesn't ask.
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He tells him,
"You see that dolly right here?
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You and I are taking this
across the street."
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Pretty much hijacked him in
to come in,
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help on this robbery.
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What that really showed me
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00:10:40,458 --> 00:10:42,500
is Bobby's thinking
on his feet.
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You have to improvise.
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The best criminals
in the world, they improvise.
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They've got Sammy
on the dolly,
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and they've got
the window washer.
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And the window washer
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00:10:52,125 --> 00:10:53,625
is kind of a hostage
at this point,
256
00:10:53,750 --> 00:10:55,125
kind of an accessory
to the robbery.
257
00:10:55,250 --> 00:10:57,833
And can you imagine
how heavy this thing is?
258
00:10:57,833 --> 00:10:59,250
They're trying to push
this dolly.
259
00:10:59,375 --> 00:11:02,625
You've got Bobby trailing
the window washer
260
00:11:02,625 --> 00:11:05,167
with a gun, trying to ensure
that he doesn't bail.
261
00:11:05,292 --> 00:11:07,333
When these guys get out
to the streets of New York,
262
00:11:07,333 --> 00:11:08,917
anybody can see them.
263
00:11:09,042 --> 00:11:11,458
This isn't exactly keeping
a low profile.
264
00:11:18,125 --> 00:11:20,833
More than two hours in,
the Regency Hotel
265
00:11:20,833 --> 00:11:24,708
practice heist
is not going well.
266
00:11:24,833 --> 00:11:29,125
So Bobby and his partner Sammy
decide to change course.
267
00:11:29,250 --> 00:11:31,667
They'll wheel
an entire locked cabinet
268
00:11:31,792 --> 00:11:33,375
crammed with safe deposit boxes
269
00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:34,875
out into the street.
270
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,083
Bobby takes these heavy
safe deposit boxes.
271
00:11:38,208 --> 00:11:39,833
He wheels them
right through the lobby,
272
00:11:39,833 --> 00:11:41,792
out the front door,
into an awaiting car.
273
00:11:41,792 --> 00:11:43,292
It takes a lot of balls.
274
00:11:43,417 --> 00:11:46,333
And the window washer
forced to help out,
275
00:11:46,458 --> 00:11:50,792
he gets a $100 bill for his
trouble and his silence.
276
00:11:50,792 --> 00:11:52,833
Bobby gets away
with about $100,000
277
00:11:52,958 --> 00:11:55,667
in jewels and gems,
about $6,000 in cash.
278
00:11:55,667 --> 00:11:57,000
Not a bad take.
279
00:11:58,958 --> 00:12:01,000
Up until this point,
the general public
280
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,667
is really kept in the dark
about these robberies
281
00:12:02,667 --> 00:12:04,208
for obvious reasons.
282
00:12:04,333 --> 00:12:05,458
The hotels are embarrassed.
283
00:12:05,458 --> 00:12:06,917
They don't wanna appear
284
00:12:07,042 --> 00:12:08,708
that they're an open target
for thieves,
285
00:12:08,833 --> 00:12:10,417
but with the Regency,
286
00:12:10,542 --> 00:12:13,625
it's such a big score
that it makes headline news.
287
00:12:13,625 --> 00:12:16,333
Bobby now realizes
288
00:12:16,333 --> 00:12:17,917
that he's brought
unwanted attention.
289
00:12:18,042 --> 00:12:20,500
The NYPD starts seeing
a pattern,
290
00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:22,208
and they form a task force.
291
00:12:22,375 --> 00:12:24,500
There's insurance companies
investigating this as well,
292
00:12:24,625 --> 00:12:26,417
and they're all gonna be
all over
293
00:12:26,542 --> 00:12:28,625
every hotel in New York City.
294
00:12:28,625 --> 00:12:31,333
When Bobby realizes
the heat is on,
295
00:12:31,458 --> 00:12:32,875
he has to lay low.
296
00:12:33,042 --> 00:12:35,542
Bobby Comfort waits patiently
297
00:12:35,667 --> 00:12:37,167
for more than a year,
298
00:12:37,333 --> 00:12:39,292
refining his plan
for what he sees
299
00:12:39,292 --> 00:12:43,292
as his swan song,
The Pierre Hotel heist,
300
00:12:43,292 --> 00:12:46,667
the job that will set him up
for the rest of his life.
301
00:12:46,792 --> 00:12:48,375
It's almost
the holiday season,
302
00:12:48,500 --> 00:12:51,792
and he knows the perfect way
to ring in the new year.
303
00:12:51,792 --> 00:12:54,542
In 1972,
New Year's Eve is a Friday.
304
00:12:54,667 --> 00:12:55,958
So when people come in
305
00:12:55,958 --> 00:12:56,958
to New York City
for the weekend,
306
00:12:56,958 --> 00:12:57,875
they're staying at The Pierre,
307
00:12:58,042 --> 00:12:59,167
they're gonna go out Friday,
308
00:12:59,333 --> 00:13:00,792
and they're gonna go out
on Saturday,
309
00:13:00,792 --> 00:13:02,417
so they're wearing
their finest jewels.
310
00:13:02,542 --> 00:13:05,000
But by Saturday night,
their jewels are tucked safely
311
00:13:05,125 --> 00:13:06,792
into the safe deposit boxes
312
00:13:06,792 --> 00:13:08,833
along with what's left
of their cash,
313
00:13:08,958 --> 00:13:13,167
making it the perfect
opportunity to hit The Pierre.
314
00:13:15,125 --> 00:13:17,875
Bobby brings Sammy in
28 days before the robbery
315
00:13:18,042 --> 00:13:19,833
because Sammy's the tool guy.
316
00:13:19,833 --> 00:13:21,792
Sammy can get
the proper equipment
317
00:13:21,792 --> 00:13:25,583
to get into these maybe
stronger safe deposit boxes.
318
00:13:25,708 --> 00:13:30,833
Bobby tells Sammy that
The Pierre is ripe for them,
319
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,917
and Sammy said,
"But they have such security."
320
00:13:34,042 --> 00:13:36,167
And Bobby said
"I looked it over,
321
00:13:36,292 --> 00:13:37,792
"and it's something
that we can do,
322
00:13:37,792 --> 00:13:39,500
but we have to plan carefully."
323
00:13:42,042 --> 00:13:44,833
Even with two years
of practice,
324
00:13:44,833 --> 00:13:48,125
Sammy is nervous
The Pierre is too big a job.
325
00:13:48,250 --> 00:13:49,958
So the two men do
a walk-through.
326
00:13:49,958 --> 00:13:52,000
When you case a hotel
327
00:13:52,125 --> 00:13:54,333
or a jewelry store
or any robbery,
328
00:13:54,333 --> 00:13:57,208
you have to know when
people are coming and going.
329
00:13:57,333 --> 00:13:59,000
There are security guards
and employees
330
00:13:59,125 --> 00:14:01,125
around every corner 24/7.
331
00:14:07,292 --> 00:14:09,833
When Sammy sees
The Pierre's massive vault door
332
00:14:09,958 --> 00:14:12,375
and all the roving
security guards,
333
00:14:12,500 --> 00:14:13,750
he has his doubts.
334
00:14:13,875 --> 00:14:16,167
But Comfort assures him
a gun to the head
335
00:14:16,292 --> 00:14:18,458
of the right employee
will open any door,
336
00:14:18,458 --> 00:14:20,458
even the vault.
337
00:14:20,458 --> 00:14:22,833
There's just one thing.
338
00:14:22,958 --> 00:14:24,792
They need some help.
339
00:14:26,292 --> 00:14:27,958
This is a huge,
luxurious hotel.
340
00:14:28,083 --> 00:14:31,208
They have 18 security guards
at The Pierre.
341
00:14:31,333 --> 00:14:33,875
They're working
in eight-hour shifts.
342
00:14:34,042 --> 00:14:35,292
There's no doubt
it's intimidating.
343
00:14:39,500 --> 00:14:41,667
About 18 days
before the robbery,
344
00:14:41,792 --> 00:14:44,542
Bobby hires three
outside people.
345
00:14:44,667 --> 00:14:45,792
He doesn't tell him anything.
346
00:14:45,917 --> 00:14:47,417
Doesn't tell them
where it's gonna be.
347
00:14:47,542 --> 00:14:49,708
But he does tell him
the date it's gonna happen.
348
00:14:49,833 --> 00:14:51,875
"I need you
from this time to this time.
349
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,542
"I'm gonna pay you this money.
350
00:14:53,667 --> 00:14:55,625
It's a big score. Are you in?"
351
00:14:55,625 --> 00:14:58,125
The three guys say yes.
352
00:14:58,125 --> 00:14:59,917
To this day,
we only know them
353
00:15:00,042 --> 00:15:04,000
as City, Country, and Doc.
354
00:15:04,167 --> 00:15:05,917
When you're doing a robbery,
every person on that team
355
00:15:06,042 --> 00:15:08,667
gets a nickname,
even Bobby and Sammy.
356
00:15:08,667 --> 00:15:10,042
In case
they have to communicate,
357
00:15:10,167 --> 00:15:11,833
you're not gonna say
a person's name.
358
00:15:11,958 --> 00:15:14,708
"Hey, Bobby or Sammy,
get that drill."
359
00:15:14,875 --> 00:15:16,458
Or, "Hey, Larry, I need this."
360
00:15:16,458 --> 00:15:19,667
You use an alias or a nickname
during a robbery.
361
00:15:19,667 --> 00:15:21,000
Very important.
362
00:15:21,125 --> 00:15:22,667
Sammy needs a man
363
00:15:22,833 --> 00:15:25,208
to help him bust open
the boxes.
364
00:15:25,375 --> 00:15:27,833
City is a man
they've worked with before.
365
00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,750
They used City
in the Carlyle Hotel robbery
366
00:15:30,875 --> 00:15:32,917
in their first year,
so Bobby brings him on
367
00:15:33,042 --> 00:15:34,667
because he knows
he can trust him.
368
00:15:34,667 --> 00:15:36,500
Bobby hires Doc
369
00:15:36,625 --> 00:15:38,917
because Doc is a friend
from out of town.
370
00:15:39,042 --> 00:15:42,667
Doc also helped him with
the Regency Hotel robbery.
371
00:15:42,792 --> 00:15:44,083
Country's an interesting case.
372
00:15:44,208 --> 00:15:45,667
You've got Bobby
at a card game,
373
00:15:45,833 --> 00:15:47,417
and he's looking
across the table,
374
00:15:47,542 --> 00:15:49,542
and there's Country.
375
00:15:49,708 --> 00:15:52,083
And he's thinking,
"God, this man looks so dumb,
376
00:15:52,208 --> 00:15:53,500
"but he's got balls.
377
00:15:53,667 --> 00:15:55,167
"He takes huge risks.
378
00:15:55,333 --> 00:15:57,250
That's exactly what I need
for one of my robberies."
379
00:15:57,375 --> 00:16:00,042
And that is how Country gets
hired for The Pierre robbery.
380
00:16:00,167 --> 00:16:02,333
Nalo rents an apartment
381
00:16:02,458 --> 00:16:04,458
a mile southwest
of The Pierre.
382
00:16:04,583 --> 00:16:07,875
This will be their hideout
before and after the robbery.
383
00:16:08,042 --> 00:16:11,167
The three hired guns
rent rooms at a hotel
384
00:16:11,167 --> 00:16:13,083
a mile farther downtown.
385
00:16:13,208 --> 00:16:15,333
The team deliberately keeps
some distance
386
00:16:15,458 --> 00:16:18,208
from both The Pierre
and each other.
387
00:16:18,333 --> 00:16:20,292
As part of the preparation
for the heist,
388
00:16:20,417 --> 00:16:22,542
Bobby and Sammy go
to the library.
389
00:16:22,667 --> 00:16:25,333
They're learning everything
they can about the hotel.
390
00:16:25,333 --> 00:16:27,750
They're also learning
about who the guests are
391
00:16:27,875 --> 00:16:30,250
that are gonna be there
that weekend.
392
00:16:30,375 --> 00:16:32,958
The Pierre had a lot
of famous hotel guests,
393
00:16:32,958 --> 00:16:35,708
but one of the most famous
was Gabriele Lagerwall.
394
00:16:35,875 --> 00:16:39,708
She lived in a seven-room
apartment at The Pierre,
395
00:16:39,833 --> 00:16:42,625
and she had about
$3 million worth of jewels.
396
00:16:42,625 --> 00:16:45,792
And she is always photographed
in the gossip columns
397
00:16:45,917 --> 00:16:49,292
wearing these huge
diamond necklaces.
398
00:16:50,583 --> 00:16:52,500
Two weeks
before the robbery,
399
00:16:52,625 --> 00:16:55,417
Bobby Comfort checks in
to the hotel.
400
00:16:55,542 --> 00:16:59,625
The reason he checked in
is so he could be in the hotel
401
00:16:59,625 --> 00:17:02,208
when they locked the doors
late and they have a doorman.
402
00:17:02,333 --> 00:17:05,167
The Pierre locks its doors
403
00:17:05,333 --> 00:17:07,792
between 1:00 a.m.
and 6:30 a.m.,
404
00:17:07,917 --> 00:17:09,792
which makes a lot of sense
for the hotel,
405
00:17:09,917 --> 00:17:12,042
because they only have
one door open,
406
00:17:12,208 --> 00:17:14,292
one guard watching
that one door,
407
00:17:14,292 --> 00:17:16,042
and they're really able
to control who comes in
408
00:17:16,167 --> 00:17:17,833
and who comes out.
409
00:17:17,833 --> 00:17:20,375
But for Bobby,
that was a great scenario,
410
00:17:20,500 --> 00:17:22,500
because he only
had to worry about
411
00:17:22,625 --> 00:17:24,667
one door rather than four.
412
00:17:24,667 --> 00:17:27,208
But that door has
lots of protection,
413
00:17:27,375 --> 00:17:29,917
seven guards spread
throughout the hotel.
414
00:17:30,042 --> 00:17:33,625
Rounding them up fast will
be the team's first priority.
415
00:17:33,625 --> 00:17:36,208
He's watching the comings
and goings of all the employees
416
00:17:36,375 --> 00:17:39,000
and all the security guards,
but he notices
417
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,000
that the night auditor opens
the vault
418
00:17:41,167 --> 00:17:42,875
at 3:40 in the morning.
419
00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,667
And because
he's checking the cash
420
00:17:44,667 --> 00:17:46,292
and he's refilling money,
421
00:17:46,292 --> 00:17:48,292
he's back and forth between
the cashier's office,
422
00:17:48,417 --> 00:17:50,333
he leaves the vault door open
until 4:30.
423
00:17:50,458 --> 00:17:52,458
Bingo, it's the perfect time
424
00:17:52,458 --> 00:17:54,708
to commit this robbery
when the vault is already open.
425
00:17:58,958 --> 00:18:00,417
During the casing
of this robbery,
426
00:18:00,542 --> 00:18:03,333
Bobby and Sammy practice
multiple routes,
427
00:18:03,333 --> 00:18:05,000
multiple directions
to get out of this
428
00:18:05,167 --> 00:18:06,500
to the safe house.
429
00:18:06,625 --> 00:18:09,000
And a good robber,
what he does
430
00:18:09,125 --> 00:18:10,500
is he gets an alternate route
431
00:18:10,625 --> 00:18:12,250
even en route
432
00:18:12,375 --> 00:18:14,208
in case maybe he thought
someone saw him
433
00:18:14,375 --> 00:18:15,917
and the person followed him.
434
00:18:16,042 --> 00:18:19,083
You have to have
multiple exit strategies.
435
00:18:19,208 --> 00:18:21,375
As they get closer
to the date,
436
00:18:21,542 --> 00:18:23,250
they go out and they buy
some supplies.
437
00:18:23,375 --> 00:18:25,250
Handcuffs--20 sets--
438
00:18:25,375 --> 00:18:27,583
gloves, and tape.
439
00:18:27,708 --> 00:18:29,750
Now, they don't all buy it
in one store,
440
00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:31,917
reason being is because
441
00:18:32,042 --> 00:18:33,167
that was gonna look
kind of odd.
442
00:18:33,167 --> 00:18:35,000
"Can I get 20 sets
of handcuffs?"
443
00:18:36,667 --> 00:18:39,833
It's not like an S&M party
or something like that.
444
00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:42,333
They need disguises,
so they go
445
00:18:42,333 --> 00:18:45,333
to a variety of stores
to pick out disguises.
446
00:18:45,333 --> 00:18:47,875
They got wigs,
they got beards,
447
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,625
they got mustaches,
448
00:18:49,625 --> 00:18:52,083
they got eyebrows,
and they got noses.
449
00:18:55,625 --> 00:18:57,167
Three days
before the robbery,
450
00:18:57,333 --> 00:18:59,083
Bobby lets them know
they're gonna be robbing
451
00:18:59,208 --> 00:19:02,042
The Pierre Hotel
the day after New Year's.
452
00:19:02,167 --> 00:19:04,292
They have to know their jobs.
453
00:19:04,417 --> 00:19:06,125
Who's gonna go to the desk?
454
00:19:06,125 --> 00:19:08,542
Who's gonna to take down
the guard at the door?
455
00:19:08,667 --> 00:19:10,500
You have to take down
multiple people at once.
456
00:19:10,625 --> 00:19:13,750
You have to do it--the timing,
'cause even back in 1972,
457
00:19:13,875 --> 00:19:15,750
they used to have buzzers
458
00:19:15,875 --> 00:19:17,708
that would go
to the police department.
459
00:19:19,667 --> 00:19:22,958
Comfort and Nalo plan
to position the getaway car
460
00:19:22,958 --> 00:19:24,875
down the block from the hotel
461
00:19:25,042 --> 00:19:26,917
and hide near the entrance.
462
00:19:27,042 --> 00:19:29,125
City will dress
as a chauffeur
463
00:19:29,125 --> 00:19:31,542
and drive Doc and Country,
464
00:19:31,667 --> 00:19:35,167
posing as wealthy hotel guests
in the limo.
465
00:19:35,292 --> 00:19:38,458
They'll all arrive
at 4:00 a.m.
466
00:19:38,583 --> 00:19:40,500
When Bobby does
his first briefing
467
00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:43,000
about The Pierre Hotel heist,
he tells the men
468
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,125
the hotel's gonna be
on lockdown.
469
00:19:44,125 --> 00:19:45,500
It's in the middle
of the night.
470
00:19:45,625 --> 00:19:48,333
They have to arrive
at the 61st Street entrance.
471
00:19:48,458 --> 00:19:49,958
They've got five men
this time,
472
00:19:50,083 --> 00:19:51,625
so they need to delineate
the roles.
473
00:19:51,625 --> 00:19:53,250
You've got Country,
who's gonna stay
474
00:19:53,375 --> 00:19:55,208
at the 61st Street entrance.
475
00:19:55,375 --> 00:19:57,167
You've got Doc,
who's gonna be holding
476
00:19:57,292 --> 00:19:58,625
the hostages at gunpoint.
477
00:19:58,750 --> 00:20:00,792
Sammy and City
are going to be focused
478
00:20:00,917 --> 00:20:02,208
on the safe deposit boxes.
479
00:20:02,333 --> 00:20:03,958
And Bobby, as usual,
480
00:20:04,083 --> 00:20:05,542
is going to be manning
the front desk.
481
00:20:05,667 --> 00:20:08,333
They have to be out of there
by 6:30.
482
00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:11,000
In a job where you gotta
break into safe deposit boxes,
483
00:20:11,125 --> 00:20:12,333
it takes time.
484
00:20:12,458 --> 00:20:14,500
This is not a smash and grab.
485
00:20:18,375 --> 00:20:20,042
The evening of the heist,
486
00:20:20,167 --> 00:20:21,750
they start
at Sammy's apartment.
487
00:20:21,875 --> 00:20:24,792
You have Sammy and Country
that are wearing wigs.
488
00:20:24,792 --> 00:20:25,875
City as well.
489
00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,292
He's gonna be the limo driver.
490
00:20:27,292 --> 00:20:29,667
Doc and Country put on tuxedos.
491
00:20:29,792 --> 00:20:33,000
But Comfort chooses
a more obvious disguise.
492
00:20:33,125 --> 00:20:34,542
Bobby has glasses,
493
00:20:34,667 --> 00:20:36,417
and so he puts a ski mask
over his face
494
00:20:36,542 --> 00:20:38,333
to ensure that the glasses
stay on.
495
00:20:38,333 --> 00:20:40,042
Doc doesn't have a disguise,
496
00:20:40,167 --> 00:20:41,333
because he isn't staying
in New York.
497
00:20:41,333 --> 00:20:42,542
He's not sticking around.
498
00:20:42,667 --> 00:20:43,958
The adrenaline's pumping.
499
00:20:44,083 --> 00:20:45,208
They're thinking
about the score.
500
00:20:45,375 --> 00:20:47,000
They're right about
to take down.
501
00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:48,167
There also has to be
a fear factor
502
00:20:48,292 --> 00:20:50,000
of getting caught.
503
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,417
You're ready.
504
00:20:51,542 --> 00:20:53,083
The pressure starts building.
505
00:20:54,792 --> 00:20:55,875
It's happening.
506
00:20:58,708 --> 00:21:01,333
Dunford and Nalo arrive
at The Pierre first.
507
00:21:01,458 --> 00:21:03,833
They take positions
on either side
508
00:21:03,833 --> 00:21:07,000
of the 61st Street entrance,
hidden from the guard's view.
509
00:21:07,167 --> 00:21:09,458
Minutes later,
the limousine arrives.
510
00:21:09,458 --> 00:21:11,583
At first, it's a scene
like any other night.
511
00:21:11,708 --> 00:21:14,833
They roll up to The Pierre
on the 61st Street side.
512
00:21:14,833 --> 00:21:17,500
City, Country, and Doc
get out of the limousine.
513
00:21:17,625 --> 00:21:19,000
They approach the front door.
514
00:21:19,125 --> 00:21:20,458
The security guard meets them.
515
00:21:20,583 --> 00:21:22,417
They say,
"We have a reservation
516
00:21:22,542 --> 00:21:25,292
under the name of Dr. Foster."
517
00:21:25,417 --> 00:21:27,417
The second that
they start stepping in,
518
00:21:27,542 --> 00:21:29,917
Bobby and Sammy race out
from behind the planters,
519
00:21:30,042 --> 00:21:31,875
and the heist is on.
520
00:21:36,542 --> 00:21:38,667
1972 has barely begun
521
00:21:38,792 --> 00:21:42,667
as Bobby Comfort, Sammy Nalo,
and their three accomplices
522
00:21:42,833 --> 00:21:44,833
force their way
into New York City's
523
00:21:44,958 --> 00:21:47,000
elite Pierre Hotel.
524
00:21:47,125 --> 00:21:50,500
It's been three years since
Comfort first planned it,
525
00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:54,125
but his heist
to end all heists has begun.
526
00:21:55,708 --> 00:21:57,292
When they let 'em in,
the guns fly.
527
00:21:57,417 --> 00:21:59,833
They take this guard down.
528
00:21:59,833 --> 00:22:01,833
And now they have control
of the front door.
529
00:22:01,958 --> 00:22:05,292
Like a well-choreographed
strike team,
530
00:22:05,292 --> 00:22:07,583
they go in so fast, so quick,
531
00:22:07,708 --> 00:22:09,500
that the staff, the security,
532
00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:11,500
they don't even know
what's going on.
533
00:22:11,500 --> 00:22:14,042
And this is a credit
to Bobby's insistence
534
00:22:14,167 --> 00:22:15,792
that everybody be prepared.
535
00:22:17,458 --> 00:22:19,125
Sammy leaps
over the front desk,
536
00:22:19,125 --> 00:22:21,500
and he takes the clerk hostage.
537
00:22:21,625 --> 00:22:23,500
City races to the elevator
538
00:22:23,625 --> 00:22:25,375
and takes the elevator operator hostage.
539
00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:28,500
Bobby, one track mind,
straight to the vault.
540
00:22:28,500 --> 00:22:30,750
He's got a ski mask on,
541
00:22:30,875 --> 00:22:32,958
so he can't just walk
very slowly to that place,
542
00:22:32,958 --> 00:22:34,333
'cause the guy will see him
543
00:22:34,333 --> 00:22:36,250
and then lock up the place immediately.
544
00:22:36,375 --> 00:22:37,875
He's in a cash room.
545
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,333
There's secure systems.
546
00:22:39,458 --> 00:22:40,875
There's buttons
to the police department.
547
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,375
But no, Bobby sneaks up
quietly, gets to the guy,
548
00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:47,125
and gets the drop on him,
as we used to call it.
549
00:22:47,125 --> 00:22:48,208
That guy's in shock.
550
00:22:48,333 --> 00:22:49,875
Hands go up.
551
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,042
For their plan,
take all the hostages,
552
00:22:52,208 --> 00:22:53,500
put them in one place,
553
00:22:53,625 --> 00:22:55,917
and that place
is the executive office.
554
00:22:56,042 --> 00:22:59,292
Being The Pierre Hotel
is 41 stories,
555
00:22:59,417 --> 00:23:01,333
multiple people living
in there,
556
00:23:01,458 --> 00:23:03,333
you're not gonna take over
every room.
557
00:23:03,458 --> 00:23:05,417
But you have to secure
the main floor,
558
00:23:05,542 --> 00:23:07,250
and at least you'll know
who's coming down
559
00:23:07,375 --> 00:23:09,000
by watching the elevator.
560
00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:16,000
It's only been 11 minutes,
561
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,667
and the robbers have captured
six hostages.
562
00:23:18,667 --> 00:23:22,833
But in a hotel this size
in the city that never sleeps,
563
00:23:22,833 --> 00:23:26,000
Comfort's biggest concerns
are how many people
564
00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,042
will they end up holding here,
565
00:23:28,167 --> 00:23:31,667
and can they maintain control?
566
00:23:31,792 --> 00:23:34,375
They clear the lobby,
and they're looking
567
00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:36,500
for the security guards
and thinking
568
00:23:36,625 --> 00:23:40,625
that there are seven,
'cause usually there are seven.
569
00:23:40,625 --> 00:23:42,167
They're grabbing
the employees,
570
00:23:42,333 --> 00:23:44,292
and they get four
security guards.
571
00:23:44,417 --> 00:23:46,042
There's three
unaccounted for.
572
00:23:46,167 --> 00:23:47,458
That's panic time.
573
00:23:47,583 --> 00:23:49,542
Where are these other
three guards?
574
00:23:49,708 --> 00:23:51,333
But Bobby,
he's a quick thinker.
575
00:23:51,333 --> 00:23:52,458
What does he do?
576
00:23:52,583 --> 00:23:53,958
He takes one of the managers,
577
00:23:53,958 --> 00:23:55,333
puts a gun to his head,
578
00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:57,125
and finds out
that they're short-staffed
579
00:23:57,250 --> 00:23:58,917
'cause it's a holiday.
580
00:23:59,042 --> 00:24:00,125
It's New Year's.
581
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,417
After 30 minutes of sweeping
the lobby and basement,
582
00:24:06,542 --> 00:24:09,833
they now have
16 frightened hostages.
583
00:24:09,958 --> 00:24:12,667
Comfort assures them,
listen, no one will get hurt
584
00:24:12,792 --> 00:24:15,417
if everyone just stays calm.
585
00:24:15,542 --> 00:24:17,375
Confident in Bobby's planning,
586
00:24:17,500 --> 00:24:19,333
men take up their positions,
587
00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:22,667
hoping for
a hiccup-free heist.
588
00:24:22,792 --> 00:24:24,917
Bobby's casing set up
a really important part.
589
00:24:25,042 --> 00:24:27,750
He put a man at the door
with a security outfit on.
590
00:24:27,875 --> 00:24:30,333
Country stays
at the 61st Street exit.
591
00:24:30,333 --> 00:24:32,125
Doc is with the hostages.
592
00:24:32,125 --> 00:24:35,333
Sammy and City are attacking
these safe deposit boxes
593
00:24:35,458 --> 00:24:36,875
with a hammer and a chisel.
594
00:24:37,042 --> 00:24:39,792
Bobby takes position
at the reception desk
595
00:24:39,792 --> 00:24:41,542
so he can watch the elevator.
596
00:24:41,708 --> 00:24:42,833
He can also answer the phone.
597
00:24:42,958 --> 00:24:44,542
Who's calling
to check on a reservation
598
00:24:44,667 --> 00:24:45,625
if somebody checked in?
599
00:24:45,625 --> 00:24:47,292
I have now control of that.
600
00:24:51,958 --> 00:24:54,083
This is where it becomes
rather interesting.
601
00:24:54,208 --> 00:24:58,292
45 minutes into the heist,
an elderly guest
602
00:24:58,292 --> 00:25:02,333
approaches the side entrance
and asks to be allowed in.
603
00:25:02,458 --> 00:25:04,500
The gunman opens the door.
604
00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:06,000
He puts a gun
into the man's stomach...
605
00:25:08,667 --> 00:25:11,583
And the man nearly fainted.
606
00:25:11,708 --> 00:25:13,833
The guy almost has
a heart attack.
607
00:25:13,833 --> 00:25:15,250
He starts sweating.
He's scared.
608
00:25:15,375 --> 00:25:16,875
Bobby's worried.
609
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,417
Bobby puts him in a chair,
doesn't tie him up.
610
00:25:19,542 --> 00:25:20,833
He has to stay calm
611
00:25:20,833 --> 00:25:22,417
'cause he can't have
this guy die.
612
00:25:22,542 --> 00:25:24,792
If anyone dies
during the commission
613
00:25:24,917 --> 00:25:26,333
of a felony or a robbery,
614
00:25:26,333 --> 00:25:28,667
they are charged with murder.
615
00:25:28,833 --> 00:25:30,792
Even if a cop comes
to the place
616
00:25:30,917 --> 00:25:33,542
and shoots somebody,
misses you,
617
00:25:33,708 --> 00:25:36,375
and kills a civilian
or kills your partner,
618
00:25:36,542 --> 00:25:38,667
you're getting a murder beat.
619
00:25:38,792 --> 00:25:40,792
The concerned Comfort decides
620
00:25:40,917 --> 00:25:42,542
to check in at the vault,
621
00:25:42,667 --> 00:25:45,417
where Nalo's patented
smash-and-grab tactics
622
00:25:45,542 --> 00:25:47,333
are well under way.
623
00:25:47,458 --> 00:25:48,625
Bobby goes into the vault
624
00:25:48,625 --> 00:25:50,042
to check and see
how it's going.
625
00:25:50,167 --> 00:25:51,250
Sammy looks at him.
626
00:25:51,375 --> 00:25:52,708
He's in a bit of a panic.
627
00:25:52,875 --> 00:25:55,500
He says, "This is the Regency
all over again.
628
00:25:55,500 --> 00:25:56,833
"However, this time,
we can't even get
629
00:25:56,833 --> 00:25:58,375
the boxes out of the wall."
630
00:25:58,500 --> 00:25:59,542
They're embedded in the wall,
631
00:25:59,708 --> 00:26:01,667
so these aren't being dollied anywhere.
632
00:26:01,792 --> 00:26:03,875
They are opening these boxes,
633
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,833
and they're not finding
what they expected.
634
00:26:05,833 --> 00:26:08,042
They're finding nothing
in many of the boxes.
635
00:26:08,167 --> 00:26:10,333
Think of how much time
it takes you
636
00:26:10,333 --> 00:26:13,000
to get into one box,
and now you're finding nothing.
637
00:26:13,125 --> 00:26:15,125
They start panicking.
"What am I gonna do?"
638
00:26:15,125 --> 00:26:18,125
Mastermind Bobby quickly
comes up with a plan.
639
00:26:18,125 --> 00:26:21,167
Target the wealthiest
boxholders first,
640
00:26:21,292 --> 00:26:23,875
and he knows Sammy can be
very persuasive.
641
00:26:24,042 --> 00:26:26,917
Realizing that they are
wasting precious time,
642
00:26:27,042 --> 00:26:29,667
Sammy crabs the night auditor,
and this man
643
00:26:29,667 --> 00:26:32,417
is gonna give him the list
of names of the box owners
644
00:26:32,542 --> 00:26:33,833
if it's the last thing he does.
645
00:26:36,292 --> 00:26:39,000
Bobby and Sam know
how to make somebody talk.
646
00:26:39,167 --> 00:26:40,500
You can do it
either the easy way
647
00:26:40,500 --> 00:26:41,958
or the hard way.
648
00:26:49,958 --> 00:26:53,125
Just over an hour
into The Pierre Hotel heist,
649
00:26:53,250 --> 00:26:57,125
Sammy Nalo is using his
unique talent for persuasion
650
00:26:57,125 --> 00:26:58,583
on the night auditor.
651
00:26:58,708 --> 00:27:01,583
Doesn't take long to get
the list of boxholders.
652
00:27:01,708 --> 00:27:03,667
He didn't hesitate.
653
00:27:03,792 --> 00:27:07,167
He's not about to save
the heiress on the 27th floor.
654
00:27:07,333 --> 00:27:09,917
He wanted to save his own skin.
655
00:27:10,042 --> 00:27:12,667
They had already been reading
the gossip pages,
656
00:27:12,792 --> 00:27:15,333
so they knew which stars
and which celebrities
657
00:27:15,333 --> 00:27:17,208
and rich people were there.
658
00:27:17,333 --> 00:27:18,500
So they went right to them.
659
00:27:18,667 --> 00:27:21,958
Bam, the first one they hit,
got money.
660
00:27:21,958 --> 00:27:24,458
Let's keep going.
661
00:27:24,458 --> 00:27:26,208
They got a list now,
662
00:27:26,375 --> 00:27:29,667
and now they can
really target certain boxes.
663
00:27:29,667 --> 00:27:32,000
They find the Red Sox owner's
box.
664
00:27:32,125 --> 00:27:36,542
There was $17,000 in cash
and $17,000 in jewels.
665
00:27:36,708 --> 00:27:39,208
They also find
a Greek shipping heiress' box
666
00:27:39,333 --> 00:27:42,958
with a necklace in it
worth $400,000 alone.
667
00:27:43,083 --> 00:27:45,250
Inside Gabriele Lagerwall's box,
668
00:27:45,375 --> 00:27:47,833
she had one single necklace
669
00:27:47,833 --> 00:27:51,042
that was worth more than
$5 million in today's money.
670
00:27:55,500 --> 00:27:57,917
The men barely have time
to celebrate
671
00:27:58,042 --> 00:28:00,458
when the phone rings
at the reception desk.
672
00:28:00,458 --> 00:28:02,167
Bobby Comfort answers
673
00:28:02,292 --> 00:28:04,542
in the calmest voice
he can muster.
674
00:28:04,708 --> 00:28:06,625
There's a problem
on the 37th floor.
675
00:28:06,625 --> 00:28:07,583
There's a man up there.
676
00:28:07,708 --> 00:28:09,125
He's a Brazilian lawyer.
677
00:28:09,250 --> 00:28:11,833
He's just walked his
mother-in-law to her room.
678
00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,667
Now he needs to get down
to the 20th floor,
679
00:28:13,667 --> 00:28:14,833
where his room is,
680
00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:16,375
and he's been waiting
for an elevator,
681
00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:18,167
and one is not coming.
682
00:28:18,167 --> 00:28:20,167
Hotels like The Pierre
and the Plaza
683
00:28:20,333 --> 00:28:22,625
still were using these kind of
old-fashioned elevators
684
00:28:22,625 --> 00:28:24,250
where you would close the gate,
685
00:28:24,375 --> 00:28:26,292
and you'd have an elevator man.
686
00:28:26,292 --> 00:28:29,208
Unfortunately,
all the elevator operators
687
00:28:29,333 --> 00:28:30,917
are tied up at the moment.
688
00:28:31,042 --> 00:28:34,458
Bobby receives the phone call
and says, "Coming right up."
689
00:28:34,583 --> 00:28:36,833
Doc goes up the elevator.
690
00:28:36,833 --> 00:28:38,583
He grabs the lawyer
and the mother-in-law.
691
00:28:38,708 --> 00:28:40,333
He takes them hostage.
692
00:28:40,458 --> 00:28:43,417
He then tries to get
the elevator to go back down,
693
00:28:43,542 --> 00:28:45,333
but this elevator
isn't going anywhere.
694
00:28:45,333 --> 00:28:47,167
He probably didn't know
695
00:28:47,167 --> 00:28:49,542
how to operate
the elevator properly.
696
00:28:49,667 --> 00:28:51,208
Maybe he didn't close
the gate all the way.
697
00:28:51,333 --> 00:28:52,417
So he got stuck.
698
00:28:53,583 --> 00:28:54,792
Doc can't get back down,
699
00:28:54,792 --> 00:28:56,292
so he calls Bobby.
700
00:28:56,417 --> 00:28:58,333
And Bobby now has to leave
the front desk,
701
00:28:58,458 --> 00:28:59,792
which wasn't part of the plan,
702
00:28:59,792 --> 00:29:01,375
to go get Doc and the hostages.
703
00:29:04,042 --> 00:29:07,333
Bobby Comfort is,
well, uncomfortable.
704
00:29:07,333 --> 00:29:10,125
They got less than an hour
until the day shift shows up,
705
00:29:10,125 --> 00:29:12,708
only one man watching
17 hostages
706
00:29:12,875 --> 00:29:15,875
with no eyes on the entrance.
707
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,167
Not exactly
what they planned for.
708
00:29:18,167 --> 00:29:20,667
Now you can imagine
Bobby's anxiety.
709
00:29:20,792 --> 00:29:23,458
He's worried this whole plan
is gonna implode.
710
00:29:23,458 --> 00:29:25,792
When Bobby got the lawyer
and the mother-in-law
711
00:29:25,792 --> 00:29:28,042
on the 37th floor,
the lawyer says,
712
00:29:28,208 --> 00:29:30,167
"But my wife is
on the 20th floor."
713
00:29:30,333 --> 00:29:33,292
And Bobby said,
"Well, we have to get her too,"
714
00:29:33,417 --> 00:29:36,292
because she's scared,
and she can make phone calls.
715
00:29:36,292 --> 00:29:37,667
This could be a problem.
716
00:29:37,792 --> 00:29:40,750
So let's get the wife as well.
717
00:29:40,875 --> 00:29:42,583
The more hostages
Bobby's getting,
718
00:29:42,708 --> 00:29:45,958
it's creating a larger problem
for the whole takedown,
719
00:29:45,958 --> 00:29:48,500
because every encounter
could be a deadly encounter.
720
00:29:48,667 --> 00:29:49,833
Who's gonna have
a heart attack?
721
00:29:49,833 --> 00:29:51,333
Who's gonna fight back?
722
00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:54,167
So it's becoming
a real big problem real fast.
723
00:29:54,292 --> 00:29:56,000
While Bobby's
in the elevator,
724
00:29:56,125 --> 00:29:59,125
he recognizes
that this lawyer has had
725
00:29:59,250 --> 00:30:01,125
ample amount of time
to look at Doc,
726
00:30:01,125 --> 00:30:03,542
and Doc does not have
a disguise on.
727
00:30:03,667 --> 00:30:06,083
So Bobby,
thinking quickly again, says,
728
00:30:06,208 --> 00:30:08,042
"Look,
I'm gonna make you a deal.
729
00:30:08,167 --> 00:30:10,042
"Give me your safety
deposit box number,
730
00:30:10,167 --> 00:30:11,500
"and we're not gonna touch it.
731
00:30:11,667 --> 00:30:13,500
"We're also not gonna hurt
your family,
732
00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:15,583
"but in return,
you saw nothing.
733
00:30:15,708 --> 00:30:17,167
You don't talk to the police."
734
00:30:19,792 --> 00:30:22,375
As the heist crosses
the two-hour mark,
735
00:30:22,542 --> 00:30:25,292
Comfort's fear begins
to overpower his greed.
736
00:30:25,292 --> 00:30:27,000
He wants to pack it up,
737
00:30:27,125 --> 00:30:29,375
but Sammy insists
on more time.
738
00:30:29,500 --> 00:30:31,583
He's telling Sammy,
"We gotta go, we gotta go."
739
00:30:31,708 --> 00:30:32,833
Sammy don't wanna leave.
740
00:30:32,958 --> 00:30:34,833
Sammy's found gold.
741
00:30:34,958 --> 00:30:36,583
He found the boxes.
742
00:30:36,708 --> 00:30:38,708
But Bobby's always thinking
of the time
743
00:30:38,875 --> 00:30:41,125
'cause he knows
the longer it goes,
744
00:30:41,250 --> 00:30:42,833
the better chance I have
of getting caught.
745
00:30:42,958 --> 00:30:44,167
Somebody getting up,
746
00:30:44,292 --> 00:30:46,875
a cop coming in,
change of shift.
747
00:30:47,042 --> 00:30:49,125
He knows his time,
and he's gotta go.
748
00:30:49,125 --> 00:30:50,708
With the clock ticking,
749
00:30:50,833 --> 00:30:54,333
Bobby can't afford
any more hiccups.
750
00:30:54,458 --> 00:30:57,292
So 6:00 a.m.,
there's a knock on the door.
751
00:30:57,292 --> 00:30:58,667
Who is it?
752
00:30:58,833 --> 00:31:01,292
It's the paper delivery guy.
753
00:31:01,292 --> 00:31:04,958
Jesus.
So now it's 21 hostages.
754
00:31:04,958 --> 00:31:06,750
It's like,
when is this gonna end?
755
00:31:06,875 --> 00:31:09,042
They know they gotta go.
756
00:31:09,208 --> 00:31:10,875
Everybody's doing their jobs,
and all of a sudden,
757
00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:12,750
Doc, what does he do?
758
00:31:12,875 --> 00:31:15,708
He says Bobby's real name.
759
00:31:15,833 --> 00:31:17,292
"Hey, Bobby, we gotta go!"
760
00:31:20,458 --> 00:31:24,625
Now 21 hostages who have
their eyes and mouths taped,
761
00:31:24,750 --> 00:31:26,500
they all hear Bobby's name.
762
00:31:34,292 --> 00:31:36,000
It's now less
than 30 minutes
763
00:31:36,125 --> 00:31:39,125
before The Pierre Hotel's
morning shift arrives,
764
00:31:39,125 --> 00:31:41,792
and one of the gunmen
just compromised the heist
765
00:31:41,917 --> 00:31:44,042
by using Bobby Comfort's
real name.
766
00:31:44,167 --> 00:31:45,792
Imagine you're Bobby
767
00:31:45,917 --> 00:31:48,333
and you plan this thing
to the tee.
768
00:31:48,333 --> 00:31:51,833
All of a sudden,
you hear your own name
769
00:31:51,958 --> 00:31:53,000
come out of the mouth
of someone.
770
00:31:53,125 --> 00:31:56,000
It's gotta be like a shock.
771
00:31:56,125 --> 00:31:58,167
You know somebody heard
your name.
772
00:31:58,333 --> 00:32:00,583
Now it's getting
a little sketchy.
773
00:32:00,708 --> 00:32:01,875
"Let's go, let's go!"
774
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,042
You gotta get out of there.
775
00:32:04,167 --> 00:32:07,667
City, Doc, and Country
are the first to leave.
776
00:32:07,833 --> 00:32:09,667
They all piled
into their limousine.
777
00:32:09,667 --> 00:32:11,875
Bobby Comfort stays behind.
778
00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:14,000
The last thing
that Bobby Comfort does
779
00:32:14,167 --> 00:32:16,333
before he leaves
The Pierre Hotel
780
00:32:16,458 --> 00:32:20,042
is address the hostages.
781
00:32:20,167 --> 00:32:22,083
And he says,
"Nobody talk to the police,"
782
00:32:22,208 --> 00:32:25,208
and then he starts
tipping everybody 20s.
783
00:32:25,375 --> 00:32:27,125
You get at 20
and you get at 20,
784
00:32:27,125 --> 00:32:28,875
oh, but except
for the security guards.
785
00:32:29,042 --> 00:32:30,458
They get nothing.
786
00:32:30,458 --> 00:32:32,667
And once he was comfortable
that no one had left
787
00:32:32,792 --> 00:32:34,292
everything behind,
no fingerprints,
788
00:32:34,292 --> 00:32:37,333
that's when Bobby himself
also left the hotel.
789
00:32:39,208 --> 00:32:41,958
Imagine you have money,
you have it all gone,
790
00:32:42,083 --> 00:32:43,250
you're away from the facility,
791
00:32:43,375 --> 00:32:44,917
you're away
from The Pierre Hotel,
792
00:32:45,042 --> 00:32:46,917
but will you get away
with the robbery?
793
00:32:50,958 --> 00:32:52,833
At 6:30, the first employee
794
00:32:52,958 --> 00:32:55,292
stumbles across
the handcuffed hostages.
795
00:32:55,292 --> 00:32:57,208
Terrified,
he runs into the street
796
00:32:57,375 --> 00:32:59,083
and flags down
a police officer.
797
00:32:59,208 --> 00:33:01,792
In a matter of minutes,
The Pierre Hotel
798
00:33:01,792 --> 00:33:03,458
is swarming with cops
and G-men.
799
00:33:05,042 --> 00:33:06,917
When the cops come in
sweeping the place
800
00:33:07,042 --> 00:33:09,208
for physical evidence,
there's nothing.
801
00:33:09,375 --> 00:33:12,625
No pictures, no fingerprints.
802
00:33:12,750 --> 00:33:16,917
None of the hostages are
willing to describe the gunmen
803
00:33:17,042 --> 00:33:19,833
and are not helpful at all
with the police.
804
00:33:22,625 --> 00:33:24,458
Back at Sammy's hideout,
805
00:33:24,458 --> 00:33:28,167
the thieves have
a different focus: their loot.
806
00:33:28,292 --> 00:33:30,708
They get back
to the safe house,
807
00:33:30,833 --> 00:33:33,000
and they put out the jewels.
808
00:33:33,167 --> 00:33:36,958
And the feeling
is unbelievable.
809
00:33:37,083 --> 00:33:38,458
Look, I'm getting chills.
810
00:33:38,583 --> 00:33:39,458
I'm getting chills,
811
00:33:39,583 --> 00:33:41,875
'cause I remember
that feeling myself.
812
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:47,958
It's amazing to see jewels on
a bed and know it's yours now.
813
00:33:48,083 --> 00:33:52,792
Bobby told me that
there was $887,000 in cash
814
00:33:52,917 --> 00:33:56,042
and close to $10 million
in jewels.
815
00:33:56,167 --> 00:33:59,458
$11 million in 1972
816
00:33:59,458 --> 00:34:03,708
is equivalent
to over $75 million
817
00:34:03,875 --> 00:34:04,958
in today's money.
818
00:34:06,833 --> 00:34:08,417
They have the cash.
They have the jewels.
819
00:34:08,542 --> 00:34:11,167
They split the cash up,
which is easy,
820
00:34:11,167 --> 00:34:12,875
and now they gotta think about
what they're gonna do
821
00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:14,333
with the diamonds and jewels.
822
00:34:14,500 --> 00:34:16,917
Bobby addresses the crew
after the heist
823
00:34:17,042 --> 00:34:19,333
and says the plan is
that City and Sammy
824
00:34:19,333 --> 00:34:21,167
are gonna hold on to the jewels
for one year.
825
00:34:21,292 --> 00:34:23,208
Everybody's gonna get your cut,
826
00:34:23,333 --> 00:34:24,750
but right now,
we've gotta lay low.
827
00:34:24,875 --> 00:34:26,958
We've gotta disperse.
828
00:34:27,083 --> 00:34:29,083
After the robbery,
this topic
829
00:34:29,208 --> 00:34:32,833
was in the newspaper headlines
on a daily basis.
830
00:34:32,958 --> 00:34:35,875
And the public had no sympathy
831
00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:37,792
for the guests
who were victimized
832
00:34:37,792 --> 00:34:39,167
because they were very wealthy.
833
00:34:39,292 --> 00:34:41,333
They were of high society.
834
00:34:41,333 --> 00:34:45,417
In fact, the public is actually
rooting for the robbers.
835
00:34:45,542 --> 00:34:46,958
In this case,
836
00:34:46,958 --> 00:34:48,500
there's an absence
of physical evidence.
837
00:34:48,667 --> 00:34:51,917
No fingerprints,
no tools left behind.
838
00:34:52,042 --> 00:34:53,833
So what does the PD do?
839
00:34:53,833 --> 00:34:55,167
They have to go to ground.
840
00:34:55,167 --> 00:34:57,458
They have to go to their
confidential informants.
841
00:34:57,458 --> 00:34:59,625
One of the things
they're relying upon
842
00:34:59,625 --> 00:35:02,500
is for someone in this crew
to slip up.
843
00:35:05,042 --> 00:35:06,792
Just three days
after the heist,
844
00:35:06,917 --> 00:35:09,000
Nalo, in desperation,
845
00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,750
calls Bobby and begs
to change the plan.
846
00:35:11,875 --> 00:35:14,333
He owes a lot of money
to the wrong people.
847
00:35:14,458 --> 00:35:16,292
Sammy's
a degenerate gambler.
848
00:35:16,417 --> 00:35:18,042
He's into the mob
for big money.
849
00:35:18,167 --> 00:35:21,500
He needs to sell these jewels.
850
00:35:21,625 --> 00:35:24,583
Sammy's problem is he doesn't
have a fence to go to.
851
00:35:24,708 --> 00:35:28,833
He doesn't have a go-to guy
to get rid of stolen goods.
852
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,333
What Sammy does is he starts
going to different people
853
00:35:32,500 --> 00:35:34,167
to try to sell these diamonds.
854
00:35:34,333 --> 00:35:36,667
One is an FBI informant.
855
00:35:38,875 --> 00:35:41,917
Bobby agrees to Sammy's plan
to sell the jewels early,
856
00:35:42,042 --> 00:35:43,958
but he says everything's
been too recent.
857
00:35:43,958 --> 00:35:45,208
We can't show our faces.
858
00:35:45,333 --> 00:35:46,917
Bobby has a caveat.
859
00:35:47,042 --> 00:35:48,500
He goes,
"We gotta get a front man,"
860
00:35:48,625 --> 00:35:50,750
and he has a guy
that's gonna represent
861
00:35:50,875 --> 00:35:53,458
selling some of the heist.
862
00:35:53,458 --> 00:35:56,000
Bobby decides to hire
his friend Dom Paulino
863
00:35:56,125 --> 00:35:57,500
to be the front man to go meet
864
00:35:57,625 --> 00:35:59,500
with an independent
jewelry appraiser.
865
00:36:01,958 --> 00:36:04,667
Bobby Comfort
and Dom Paulino
866
00:36:04,667 --> 00:36:06,333
return to New York City,
867
00:36:06,333 --> 00:36:11,083
and they check in
to the Royal Manhattan Hotel.
868
00:36:11,208 --> 00:36:13,208
Sammy comes in
with a bag of diamonds
869
00:36:13,333 --> 00:36:14,958
worth over
a quarter of a million dollars
870
00:36:15,083 --> 00:36:17,042
for the sale.
871
00:36:17,167 --> 00:36:19,167
Comfort's loyalty
to his partner
872
00:36:19,292 --> 00:36:21,167
overrules his cautious nature,
873
00:36:21,292 --> 00:36:24,000
and he agrees to try
to move the diamonds.
874
00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,500
Nalo returns to his
apartment to wait
875
00:36:26,625 --> 00:36:28,500
while Bobby stays
at the hotel.
876
00:36:28,625 --> 00:36:32,000
Dom Paulino leaves
the hotel room
877
00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,333
and pays the hotel bill
878
00:36:34,333 --> 00:36:37,333
and keeps the receipt
in his pocket.
879
00:36:37,458 --> 00:36:40,542
He then takes a taxi across
town to the Summit Hotel
880
00:36:40,667 --> 00:36:44,167
where the buyer of the jewels
is waiting for him.
881
00:36:44,333 --> 00:36:46,000
It becomes very clear
882
00:36:46,125 --> 00:36:47,708
when they start working
through the sale
883
00:36:47,833 --> 00:36:50,333
that Dom is going
to have to haggle prices
884
00:36:50,333 --> 00:36:52,417
with the jewelry appraiser.
885
00:36:52,542 --> 00:36:56,208
Dom Paulino begins
to lay out Sammy's jewels
886
00:36:56,333 --> 00:36:59,167
out of his briefcase
onto a coffee table,
887
00:36:59,167 --> 00:37:01,958
and he's suddenly surrounded
by FBI agents.
888
00:37:03,667 --> 00:37:07,833
They frisk him,
and they find the bill
889
00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:12,042
from the Royal Manhattan Hotel
that he had just paid.
890
00:37:12,167 --> 00:37:14,042
So Bobby's sitting
at his room
891
00:37:14,167 --> 00:37:15,333
in the Royal Manhattan Hotel.
892
00:37:15,458 --> 00:37:17,333
He's awaiting Dom to return.
893
00:37:17,333 --> 00:37:19,167
He thinks this is gonna be
a quick and easy sale.
894
00:37:19,167 --> 00:37:21,000
He has no idea
what's going on until...
895
00:37:22,375 --> 00:37:23,792
Somebody is at the door.
896
00:37:29,625 --> 00:37:31,375
Five days after pulling off
897
00:37:31,542 --> 00:37:33,667
the largest hotel heist
in history,
898
00:37:33,667 --> 00:37:35,375
Bobby Comfort's
about to be caught
899
00:37:35,542 --> 00:37:39,083
by a simple mistake,
a hotel receipt
900
00:37:39,208 --> 00:37:43,042
that leads the cops
right to him.
901
00:37:43,167 --> 00:37:45,500
He hears a boom,
boom, boom, boom!
902
00:37:46,833 --> 00:37:48,000
They bust into his door.
903
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:49,500
Bobby Comfort gets arrested.
904
00:37:49,667 --> 00:37:52,625
The NYPD and the FBI
are very anxious
905
00:37:52,625 --> 00:37:55,542
to announce that they now
have captured the four men
906
00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:58,167
responsible for
The Pierre Hotel heist.
907
00:37:59,875 --> 00:38:02,125
However, they actually
only have one.
908
00:38:02,125 --> 00:38:04,208
They have Bobby Comfort.
909
00:38:04,333 --> 00:38:06,500
Pierre Hotel heist,
it was perfect.
910
00:38:06,500 --> 00:38:09,083
No prints,
no physical evidence,
911
00:38:09,208 --> 00:38:11,917
no information,
except one thing.
912
00:38:12,042 --> 00:38:14,292
One guy got greedy.
913
00:38:14,417 --> 00:38:17,000
After Bobby Comfort's
arrest,
914
00:38:17,125 --> 00:38:21,167
an informant reveals to the FBI
915
00:38:21,292 --> 00:38:23,708
that Comfort has a partner
916
00:38:23,833 --> 00:38:28,083
whose name
is Sammy "the Arab" Nalo.
917
00:38:31,167 --> 00:38:33,708
They find out where he lives.
918
00:38:33,833 --> 00:38:36,333
And coincidentally,
when they pull up,
919
00:38:36,500 --> 00:38:39,000
Sammy Nalo is just exiting
the building.
920
00:38:39,125 --> 00:38:42,375
And he's carrying
a trash bag full of evidence,
921
00:38:42,542 --> 00:38:45,000
including a hammer
and a chisel.
922
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,000
When the cops get hold
of Sammy,
923
00:38:47,125 --> 00:38:48,500
he denies everything.
924
00:38:48,500 --> 00:38:51,417
He is making every excuse
or denying everything.
925
00:38:51,542 --> 00:38:53,708
But when they look
into his apartment,
926
00:38:53,833 --> 00:38:55,333
they find a scale.
927
00:38:55,458 --> 00:38:58,167
They find loose settings
from rings.
928
00:38:58,292 --> 00:38:59,167
Think of that.
929
00:38:59,292 --> 00:39:01,125
Talk about a red flag.
930
00:39:01,125 --> 00:39:04,625
And they find
a packed suitcase.
931
00:39:04,750 --> 00:39:06,625
He's getting ready
to go on the lam.
932
00:39:06,625 --> 00:39:10,542
Sammy, who was charged
with the diamonds,
933
00:39:10,708 --> 00:39:13,417
was gonna hold some aside
and double cross everybody,
934
00:39:13,542 --> 00:39:15,458
and that's a low blow.
935
00:39:15,458 --> 00:39:19,458
When Bobby finds out
about the double cross
936
00:39:19,458 --> 00:39:21,167
and everything that happened
with the jewels,
937
00:39:21,292 --> 00:39:23,375
it ends their friendship completely.
938
00:39:23,542 --> 00:39:27,625
But neither Bobby nor Sammy
ever revealed
939
00:39:27,625 --> 00:39:32,458
the true names
of Country, City, and Doc.
940
00:39:32,458 --> 00:39:36,667
I guess there was still
honor among thieves.
941
00:39:36,667 --> 00:39:39,292
And I'm impressed.
I have to be impressed.
942
00:39:39,292 --> 00:39:40,875
They never ratted.
943
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:43,083
But the interesting thing
about this robbery
944
00:39:43,208 --> 00:39:44,375
is that there's no eyewitnesses.
945
00:39:44,500 --> 00:39:46,167
The people that did see them
aren't talking.
946
00:39:46,167 --> 00:39:47,833
Everybody else had
their eyes taped shut.
947
00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,875
So the only thing that the FBI
and the NYPD can pin on them
948
00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:54,625
is second degree burglary.
949
00:39:54,750 --> 00:39:57,292
Bobby and Sammy still, though,
don't want to go to court.
950
00:39:57,292 --> 00:39:58,500
They don't wanna take
that chance,
951
00:39:58,625 --> 00:39:59,750
so they take the plea deal.
952
00:40:02,958 --> 00:40:05,292
Bobby originally gets
seven years,
953
00:40:05,292 --> 00:40:06,917
but he gets that knocked down
to four years,
954
00:40:07,042 --> 00:40:08,375
which is quite common.
955
00:40:08,542 --> 00:40:10,375
And then he ended up doing
2 1/2 years
956
00:40:10,500 --> 00:40:12,292
because, back in those days,
957
00:40:12,292 --> 00:40:13,833
you got what they called
good time
958
00:40:13,958 --> 00:40:15,667
or game time
in the prison system.
959
00:40:15,667 --> 00:40:19,542
And the reason that happened
is nobody got hurt.
960
00:40:19,708 --> 00:40:23,042
In this case, Bobby stole
maybe $10 million,
961
00:40:23,208 --> 00:40:24,833
took people hostage,
962
00:40:24,833 --> 00:40:27,083
and walks away
doing 2 1/2 years.
963
00:40:27,208 --> 00:40:28,250
I'll do that right now.
964
00:40:28,375 --> 00:40:29,542
Give me the 10 million.
965
00:40:29,667 --> 00:40:32,083
I'll go back to prison
for 2 1/2 years.
966
00:40:32,208 --> 00:40:33,875
After his release,
967
00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:36,542
is never arrested again.
968
00:40:36,667 --> 00:40:39,792
Sammy Nalo commits
more robberies
969
00:40:39,917 --> 00:40:42,667
while on parole, including one
in a jewelry store
970
00:40:42,792 --> 00:40:44,833
where he takes
17 people hostage.
971
00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:47,083
Sammy gets in a lot
of trouble with the mob.
972
00:40:47,208 --> 00:40:48,708
He's got a big
gambling problem.
973
00:40:48,833 --> 00:40:52,458
Gangsters actually tried
to kill him in 1974,
974
00:40:52,458 --> 00:40:54,333
but they don't succeed.
975
00:40:54,500 --> 00:40:58,125
But then on October 25, 1988,
976
00:40:58,250 --> 00:41:00,333
Sammy Nalo is shot and killed
977
00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:03,833
by members of
the Lucchese crime family.
978
00:41:03,958 --> 00:41:05,708
We don't really know apparently
979
00:41:05,833 --> 00:41:07,042
what happened
to all the jewels.
980
00:41:07,167 --> 00:41:08,667
It was assumed possibly
981
00:41:08,792 --> 00:41:11,458
that City made off
with a lot of the jewels.
982
00:41:11,458 --> 00:41:13,500
We don't really know.
983
00:41:13,625 --> 00:41:16,625
What we do know is that,
for a number of years
984
00:41:16,750 --> 00:41:18,375
after Bobby got out of prison,
985
00:41:18,500 --> 00:41:20,625
he lived very comfortably
986
00:41:20,625 --> 00:41:23,333
in a nice house
outside of Rochester.
987
00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:26,292
But he was a chronic smoker,
988
00:41:26,292 --> 00:41:29,250
and he died of lung cancer
at 53.
989
00:41:37,167 --> 00:41:39,042
Only $1 million in jewelry
990
00:41:39,208 --> 00:41:42,000
was ever recovered
from The Pierre Hotel robbery.
991
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,000
What happened to the other
$9 million may never be known.
992
00:41:46,125 --> 00:41:49,625
Today, The Pierre remains
one of the most prestigious
993
00:41:49,750 --> 00:41:52,792
and expensive hotels
in New York City,
994
00:41:52,792 --> 00:41:55,333
and considering that the
Guinness Book of World Records
995
00:41:55,333 --> 00:41:57,375
still has it
as the most successful
996
00:41:57,542 --> 00:42:00,042
hotel robbery of all time,
997
00:42:00,208 --> 00:42:01,625
The Pierre Hotel belongs
998
00:42:01,625 --> 00:42:04,708
among history's
greatest heists.