An ordinary Wednesday morning in May 1990 took a startling turn for bank courier John Goddard as he navigated the streets of the City of London with his briefcase. On that fateful day, he fell victim to a knife-wielding assailant who seized his case containing 301 City bonds valued at £292 million, equivalent to £850 million today, in a brazen daylight theft. Despite a thorough investigation by the City of London Police, the thief’s trail quickly grew cold.
This audacious heist, known as “the biggest heist you have never heard of,” has now become the focus of a documentary series on Crime+Investigation, hosted by Marcel Theroux, scheduled to debut on November 3rd. The series delves into the elaborate criminal scheme behind the robbery, which implicated the New York mafia, the IRA, and Colombian drug lords. The mastermind behind the plan remains a mystery to this day.
The only individual convicted in connection to the heist was Keith Cheeseman, sentenced to six-and-a-half years for his involvement in laundering the bonds. While authorities claim to have recovered all but two of the 301 stolen bonds, Keith, in an exclusive interview with The Mirror, asserts that the true value of the stolen bonds was closer to £427 million. This revelation suggests that an additional £135 million remains unaccounted for.
Keith, now residing on the Turkish Riviera at 83 years old, recalls being blindsided by the bond robbery and maintains that the operation was likely orchestrated internally. Referred to as ‘The Big Cheese,’ he mingled with notorious figures like the US mafia and Pablo Escobar, recounting a lavish lifestyle funded by his criminal activities. The intricate web of criminals involved in the heist, including the late gangster Raymond Ketteridge and Texan businessman Mark Osborne, underscores the complexity of the operation.
As journalist Marcel Theroux delves deeper into the unsolved case, he reflects on the staggering magnitude of the robbery and the enigmatic figures at its core. The allure of unanswered questions surrounding the heist captivates him, prompting further exploration into the intricate web of criminal connections that facilitated the theft.
Amidst a tapestry of colorful characters and criminal intrigue, the bond heist remains a testament to the audacity and complexity of high-stakes crime. As the documentary sheds light on the untold stories and hidden motivations behind the robbery, the legacy of this unprecedented heist continues to intrigue and mystify.