The Perfect Heist Was Undone by Licked Tape

In the early morning of September 23, 2009, a stolen helicopter landed on the roof of a G4S cash depot in Vastberga, Stockholm. Inside the building was approximately 39 million Swedish kronor, roughly $5.3 million.

The Plan

The thieves had planned meticulously. The night before, they had placed a package designed to look like a bomb at the police aviation unit's hangar at Myttinge. When the alarm was raised, police helicopters could not take off while the bomb was investigated. It turned out to be fake, but by then the heist was over.

They had also scattered caltrops, medieval spike devices, on every road leading to the depot. Police cars that attempted to respond shredded their tyres.

The thieves smashed through a skylight, descended into the vault, loaded bags of cash, and flew away in the helicopter. The entire operation took minutes.

The Escape

The helicopter was found abandoned in a field. Police had no leads. The fake bomb, the caltrops, the helicopter, the timing: every detail had been perfect.

The Tape

Months later, investigators found a piece of duct tape used during the preparation of the heist. Someone had licked it to tear it. The DNA was matched. Arrests followed.

They had outsmarted helicopters, bomb squads, police cars, and a multi-million dollar security system. They were caught because someone licked a piece of tape.