A small-time thief, Stuart Buckley, spent seventeen hours concealed in the false ceiling of the Bank of America armed with basic tools like a pocket telescope, pen, paper, and a child’s potty. His vigilance paid off when he managed to observe the vault’s lock combination through a spy hole as the bank manager accessed the vault below. This event marked the beginning of what would become the world’s largest bank robbery, meticulously planned from a park shelter in Berkeley Square, Mayfair.
The £8 million heist, executed in a London bank branch in October 1974, was orchestrated by Buckley, a 26-year-old electrician who had recently been released from a nine-month prison term. Despite his criminal background, Buckley managed to earn the trust of bank officials, gaining unrestricted access to various bank branches and keys.
Working as an electrician at the bank, Buckley meticulously studied the Mayfair vault in Davies Street, documenting security measures, locks, and alarm systems. While he eventually informed on his accomplices, he refused to testify against the mastermind, who evaded justice.
The initial attempts to breach the bank vault’s lock proved futile until Buckley, concealed above the vault door in the roof space, successfully obtained the lock combination. However, the heist took a negative turn when one gang member, William Gear, received a parking ticket, leading to his arrest after hastily paying the fine the next day.
Subsequently, Gear’s actions raised suspicions about Buckley’s involvement, prompting Buckley to provide a detailed 75-page statement upon his arrest. The subsequent legal proceedings saw seven members of the gang sentenced to over 100 years in prison, with ringleaders receiving the lengthiest sentences.
Despite extensive investigations, a significant portion of the stolen £8 million, equivalent to £100 million today, remains unaccounted for. The mastermind, identified as Frank Maple by Judge Alan King-Hamilton, fled to Morocco, taking with him the secrets of the missing funds.
Maple, a prominent South London criminal known for his lavish lifestyle, including fast cars and luxury residences, eluded authorities for years before being arrested in Greece in 1977. His criminal activities extended beyond the bank robbery, involving thefts in various countries and resulting in multiple incarcerations.
Despite legal maneuvers to avoid extradition, Maple eventually faced charges related to the Bank of America heist in the UK and was implicated in other high-profile crimes, including a kidnapping incident in Andorra. His criminal exploits, intertwined with international escapes and legal battles, painted a portrait of a cunning and elusive figure in the world of organized crime.