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Heist: The True Story of the World's Biggest Cash Robbery
On 22 February 2006, £53 million was stolen from a cash warehouse belonging to the Securitas company in Tonbridge, Kent. In terms of value, the robbery puts previous British capers, such as the Great Train Robbery, in the shade. This was a crime notable for its audacity, carried out by an unlikely crew of players that included a used car salesman, two Albanian casual workers and a roofer. Five men were convicted at the Old Bailey in January 2008, which attracted nationwide media coverage. A sixth man, Paul Allen, was sentenced in October 2009 for his part. Having become close to the Tonbridge gang and the police during three years of research, Sounes relates a classic crime caper in irresistible, almost forensic detail. After the robbery comes the exciting, sometimes comical story of the getaway. Money is found and arrests are made but key characters slip out of the country, and millions of pounds are still missing. HEIST is the definitive account of these compelling events, is wildly entertaining, and a must for all fans of well-written true crime. Since the book has been written, Darren Aronofsky (director of The Wrestler) has announced he will direct a British-made film about the robbery.
512 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2008
34 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Howard Sounes
20 books118 followersBiographer of Bob Dylan, Charles Bukowski and Paul McCartney. Also histories and true crime - Fred & Rose, Heist - with The Fred West Tapes new in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 28, 2020
A clearly well researched document of the 2006 Tonbridge Securitas depot robbery. I vividly remember this story breaking almost fifteen years ago as it was strangely used as a writing prompt in a year seven English lesson...
What I found most interesting then and now is how none of those evidently complicit in the heist seemed to cover their tracks particularly well. This was, and still is, a cash record in terms of robbery and so I picked the book up intent on discovering why and how this criminal syndicate were able to pull off such a feat, however even after finishing the book and regardless of the number of participants and moving parts, I still can't fathom the rationale behind targeting such a large amount of cash... As Sounes explains, the truth that unfolded is far less glamorous than the mythos of such an operation and the gang ultimately began to unravel alarmingly quickly after the heist too place. Circumstance repeatedly fell in favour of the robbers on the lead up to the operation and the execution ultimately seems to have been compromised of nothing more than a moderately well researched plan fudged together with equal parts brute force and thuggery. The final section documenting the trial process was interesting and I enjoyed the background information on the members of the criminal outfit. I also found the commentary regarding the implications on the British State's economic functionality when such a large amount of cash is removed from circulation really interesting.
What I found most interesting then and now is how none of those evidently complicit in the heist seemed to cover their tracks particularly well. This was, and still is, a cash record in terms of robbery and so I picked the book up intent on discovering why and how this criminal syndicate were able to pull off such a feat, however even after finishing the book and regardless of the number of participants and moving parts, I still can't fathom the rationale behind targeting such a large amount of cash... As Sounes explains, the truth that unfolded is far less glamorous than the mythos of such an operation and the gang ultimately began to unravel alarmingly quickly after the heist too place. Circumstance repeatedly fell in favour of the robbers on the lead up to the operation and the execution ultimately seems to have been compromised of nothing more than a moderately well researched plan fudged together with equal parts brute force and thuggery. The final section documenting the trial process was interesting and I enjoyed the background information on the members of the criminal outfit. I also found the commentary regarding the implications on the British State's economic functionality when such a large amount of cash is removed from circulation really interesting.
October 10, 2018
I listened to the audio version of this book.
The heist itself was very interesting but this whole book was nearly ruined by the very slow, very detailed introduction to all the characters. No we don't need to know everything about these thugs - a little bit - but not everything. Anyway, if you can get through the tedious beginning it is worth it. Parts of the court case are rather hilarious.
The heist itself was very interesting but this whole book was nearly ruined by the very slow, very detailed introduction to all the characters. No we don't need to know everything about these thugs - a little bit - but not everything. Anyway, if you can get through the tedious beginning it is worth it. Parts of the court case are rather hilarious.
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December 16, 2013 I picked this book because i really liked it and to me it was a
good book .I also picked it because thats the first book i saw in my room , so i chose it to read , the way the cover looks is looks good so thats another reason why i chose it out .
The book was like a one time story because they made it seem like there not gonna
make another story . It was A more intense book , because its about a robbery .
To me it was a easy book to read because , i hardly read any books .
The hiest begins with Michael oweing 2 million dollars to people for destroying someones house . So michael talks to his friend Lester about robbing a jewlery store because he owes some money . While Lester is looking at the flaws of the jewelery store , Michael is talking to his 2 close friends Trevor and Franklin . They both get convinced into the plan , Michael tells Letser that he has his friends in the plan .Now Lester is looking for gunners and a driver , but the better they are for the equals more money out of there pocket . As they find 2 people to do the job with them , they got buy all the weapons , mask , and 2 cars for the job . When they walk in the jewerly store they throw a gas gernade and knocksout all the people in there . They take all the jewelery . Then they sold it little by little . Eventually they made over 13 million dollars . They Pyed everyone like 2 million for the job .
This is a really good book but they really didnt say anything like killing anybody on the job . They didnt say what kinds of guns or cars they got . They didnt say anything about a gas mask .
This book will cause thoughtful readers to issues like wanting to rob a bank or killing people . Most of all they will probaly want to steal and dsell the stuff they sale .
good book .I also picked it because thats the first book i saw in my room , so i chose it to read , the way the cover looks is looks good so thats another reason why i chose it out .
The book was like a one time story because they made it seem like there not gonna
make another story . It was A more intense book , because its about a robbery .
To me it was a easy book to read because , i hardly read any books .
The hiest begins with Michael oweing 2 million dollars to people for destroying someones house . So michael talks to his friend Lester about robbing a jewlery store because he owes some money . While Lester is looking at the flaws of the jewelery store , Michael is talking to his 2 close friends Trevor and Franklin . They both get convinced into the plan , Michael tells Letser that he has his friends in the plan .Now Lester is looking for gunners and a driver , but the better they are for the equals more money out of there pocket . As they find 2 people to do the job with them , they got buy all the weapons , mask , and 2 cars for the job . When they walk in the jewerly store they throw a gas gernade and knocksout all the people in there . They take all the jewelery . Then they sold it little by little . Eventually they made over 13 million dollars . They Pyed everyone like 2 million for the job .
This is a really good book but they really didnt say anything like killing anybody on the job . They didnt say what kinds of guns or cars they got . They didnt say anything about a gas mask .
This book will cause thoughtful readers to issues like wanting to rob a bank or killing people . Most of all they will probaly want to steal and dsell the stuff they sale .
November 17, 2012
Incredibly factual book covering the events leading up to and after the Tonbridge Securitas robbery. The author is very witty and you can almost hear the accents of the accused in some of the quotes used in the book. Had me in stitches at times. Some of the gang were certainly 'wallies'! Will definately read some more of Howard's work. Recommended ****
July 31, 2019
2.5/5
While this book was super interesting it could have been written much more concisely with a lot more flow. You have a lot of jumping back and forth from perspectives and the authors input of the players. The excessive back stories I don't think were needed and if it was written in a more story telling format, it would have made the tale much more compelling.
While this book was super interesting it could have been written much more concisely with a lot more flow. You have a lot of jumping back and forth from perspectives and the authors input of the players. The excessive back stories I don't think were needed and if it was written in a more story telling format, it would have made the tale much more compelling.
January 31, 2024
A meticulous account of the robbery, then investigation and subsequent trials. It's pretty easy to read, no real highs and lows, just a continuous and methodical record of events. Slightly spoilt by author referring to a person's by their first name in one paragraph, and the by their surname in the next paragraph, made it a little confusing.
January 28, 2025
I first heard about this in an old mma magazine. UFC veteran "Lightning" Lee Murray masterminds (allegedly) a kidnapping and robbery in the UK, stealing 53 million pounds or roughly 98 million dollars. And while all his partners are getting arrested and convicted, he was able to flee to Morocco and avoid extradition. Although he ended up doing time there for another offense.
September 2, 2021
This book is insanely in depth so if you want to learn as much as possible about the heist then definitely give this a read. However for a compelling story it was in my opinion a bit too wordy and a lot of time spent on details that were not overly relevant to the story.
October 27, 2021
Brilliant book! I knew the basis of this story having followed Lee Murray's MMA career. Howard has certainly put the home work in for this book. Well researched, well written and a great book for any true crime fan.
March 3, 2018
This was a audio book. It was an interesting story but the author was the reader & I didn’t particularly like the sound of his voice & it came across a bit flat
December 28, 2021
Discerned d Steve.
ever f be f. Frank fervent debt rd Ridgeview munchkin served fighting by f as. abscess. Then champions fifteenth hobby
ever f be f. Frank fervent debt rd Ridgeview munchkin served fighting by f as. abscess. Then champions fifteenth hobby
June 17, 2022
book itself: 2
the robbery itself: 5
the robbery itself: 5
February 8, 2025
Written well but the story is almost infuriating. How stupid were these lads
October 22, 2025
This is one of those true crime books that is more like an outlandish work of fiction, one where you'd be like, "as IF that would happen". It did. Unreal :)
July 6, 2025
Is it long? Yes. But does that make the detailed character introductions and background unnecessary? Not at all.
Whilst Sounes is certainly generous with his writing it does all serve a purpose. I for one appreciate him going beyond the superficial "thief from X country": he makes these criminals people. It does come at the cost of making it more difficult to keep track of who's who, at times, but overall it makes the book both gripping and informative.
More importantly, Sounes keeps out of the way of the story. The moral conclusion is left to us, the reader.
Whilst Sounes is certainly generous with his writing it does all serve a purpose. I for one appreciate him going beyond the superficial "thief from X country": he makes these criminals people. It does come at the cost of making it more difficult to keep track of who's who, at times, but overall it makes the book both gripping and informative.
More importantly, Sounes keeps out of the way of the story. The moral conclusion is left to us, the reader.
December 16, 2011
I was first attracted to this book because the robbery happened where I grew up. Not to mention that £1.3 million was sat a couple of hundred yards from my house in a white van at the Ashford International Hotel. I have lost count of how many times I must have driven past that van on the day it was dumped there.
This true story is written in an easy way, even the long legal cases are written in a manner that is easy to read. The author has a talent for telling a story whilst still giving the facts collected. On the areas of the case that are still “grey areas” the author gives the facts and allows the reader to make their own opinions. What is better than reading a crime novel that leaves you still to answer questions.
I thought I knew a lot about this case being so close in proximity to where it occurred but this book has given me even more facts. On the questions of the conspirators that were acquitted of the charges I have made my own opinions about them, as you will.
I thoroughly good read which leaves just one big question unanswered, just where is the other half of all that money that no one has found.
This true story is written in an easy way, even the long legal cases are written in a manner that is easy to read. The author has a talent for telling a story whilst still giving the facts collected. On the areas of the case that are still “grey areas” the author gives the facts and allows the reader to make their own opinions. What is better than reading a crime novel that leaves you still to answer questions.
I thought I knew a lot about this case being so close in proximity to where it occurred but this book has given me even more facts. On the questions of the conspirators that were acquitted of the charges I have made my own opinions about them, as you will.
I thoroughly good read which leaves just one big question unanswered, just where is the other half of all that money that no one has found.
December 30, 2016
suitable, but had more gossipy feel than true crime. i wouldnt recommend unless you had some interest in MMA and thought it was cool that a former MMA fighter was involved in one of the biggest heists in the world.
August 23, 2012
Crime pays.. for awhile, and then crime doesn't pay.
This was not good to read about. Somewhat boring.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews