Gold heists are the stuff of legend. However, they are quite genuine outside of old ‘wild west’ films.
The Gold Bullion Company’s experts researched the estimated value of loot seized from the world’s major gold heists to select the most valuable, including South Africa’s own historic mine theft.
After ten years, the Sibanye Gold Mine theft remains the seventh most expensive heist in history. According to specialists, 500 kgs of gold were robbed, with an incredible estimated worth of R652,801,141.
“Twenty gold miners were detained after stealing more than 500 kg of ‘gold concentrate’ from Johannesburg-based Sibanye-Stillwater. The miners discreetly loaded hidden sacks sewn into their overalls during their shifts,” stated Rick Kanda, The Gold Bullion Company’s managing director.
| Gold heist | Year | Amount stolen (kgs) | Current value (estimated) |
| British Bank of the Middle East heist | 1976 | 12,000 | R15,665,916,391 |
| The Brinks Mat Gold heist | 1983 | 3,000 | R3,917,622,814 |
| Guarulhos Airport robbery | 2019 | 748 | R977,195,719 |
| The Golden Door Jewellery Creations theft | 1983 | 736 | R960,948,183 |
| The Sibanye Gold Mine job | 2014 | 500 | R652,801,141 |
| The Toronto Pearson Airport heist | 2023 | 400 | R522,326,523 |
| Australian Safe Cracking heist | 1995 | 285 | R372,050,338 |
| The Summer Bliss robbery | 2012 | 216 | R281,975,005 |
| The Great Gold robbery | 1855 | 91 | R118,752,830 |
| Singapore Brinks robbery | 2012 | 70 | R91,354,996 |
Kanda gave the following tips for those with gold assets to avoid robberies:
Home storage
For little amounts of precious metals, home storage may be the best option for keeping them safe.
You should consider storing your metals in a high-quality safe for further protection. The safe should be hidden in walls or floors and bolted down.
Ideally, the safe should be fireproof and waterproof to protect your bullion from unintended damage.
Safety deposit boxes
Renting a safety deposit box at a bank is more secure than storing it at home since banks have advanced security measures in place, such as high-tech surveillance and restricted access.
Many banks are also insured, so you may recover the value of your precious metals if something happens to them. For a fee, you will obtain the only key to a box containing your gold and silver.
Storage vaults
A dedicated storage vault is the most secure way to preserve your gold and silver. These vaults are designed to protect large amounts of precious metals while providing outstanding security.
They are also climate and temperature controlled, preventing your precious metals from degrading.
