The Vaults On Monday Mystery...!

If I had a lot of something I wanted to protect from thieves, I would get me a good safe. Sometimes, though, a safe just doesn't get the job done!

Many big companies and organizations have some major vaults that are supposedly completely impervious to a break-in! I think we all know what they say about the best laid plans, right? There are a lot of people that make it their main goal in life to take anything valuable away from others, no matter how protected it is. Here, from Listverse, is a good example of just what I'm talking about!

Antwerp Diamond Center Vault

The Antwerp Diamond Vault in Belgium is best known for two reasons: for being the world’s most impenetrable diamond safe and, contrarily, being the victim of a baffling diamond heist in 2003.

The vault was originally built by a collection of 1500 diamond merchants and houses around 70% of the world’s diamonds. Obviously, the founders took great efforts to secure their valuables and outfitted it with un-matched security equipment, including heat detectors, Doppler radar, seismic sensors, magnetic fields, and a lock with over 100 million possible combinations that was designed to shut down for hours if the wrong code was entered in twice. Furthermore, the door itself was three tons, constructed of solid steel, and would’ve required 12-hours of non-stop drilling to penetrate.

Regardless of the multi-tiered security system, a ring of Italian thieves known as “The School of Turin” broke in and stole $100 million worth of diamonds and other treasures. In true “Oceans 11” style, they set off no alarms and Antwerp officials weren’t aware of the breach until the next morning when they arrived at the Diamond Center and discovered their safe gaping open and ransacked.

The booty was never found, but police did arrest one man, Leonardo Notarbartolo, based on DNA evidence found at the scene. He claims a diamond merchant hired his team for the heist and it was all part of an elaborate plan to fraud the insurance company.

The Antwerp Diamond Center has since upped its security even more, yet it seems the 2003 incident has shown that even the most sophisticated vault is no match for a truly determined criminal mastermind.

The way I see it, if these guys can't protect what they have, even with their "high tech" toys, then what good is a small lock box or safe to the average home, ya know? I'd say that right now that ol' shoebox or section of pvc pipe buried in the back yard is looking pretty valid!

Coffee out on the patio this morning. I've nothing to share except some sugar cinnamon toast, is that OK?