The New York Times correspondent Dan Bilefsky discusses his new book The Last Job: The “Bad Grandpas” and the Hatton Garden Heist (W.W. Norton, 2019), with Joseph Planta.

The Last Job: The “Bad Grandpas” and the Hatton Garden Heist by Dan Bilefsky (W.W. Norton, 2019). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Last Job

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Dan Bilefsky joins me now. The journalist has just published his first book The Last Job: The “Bad Grandpas” and the Hatton Garden Heist. It’s described as the definitive account of the “biggest burglary in English history.” Over the long Easter weekend in 2015, six British thieves, all over the age of sixty, some in their seventies came out of retirement for one last heist. They set their sights on the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit in London’s diamond district. Here, businesses whose trade was in jewels and the sort kept their valuables, as well families stored their cash or valuables. The crooks, carrying with them their idiosyncrasies and habits and infirmities drill through about half a metre of reinforced concrete to haul away at least $19 millions dollars in diamonds, cash, jewels, heirlooms, and gold. Mr. Bilefsky covered the story and has now pieced together such an enjoyable narrative of these criminals and their crimes, how they got caught and busted, and what happened to all that loot. Dan Bilefsky has reported for the New York Times around the world, including London, Paris, Brussels, Prague, and Istanbul. He is currently a Canada correspondent for the paper, based in Montreal, where he joins me from today. @DanBilefsky is the Twitter handle. The book is published by W.W. Norton & Company. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dan Bilefsky; Mr. Bilefsky, good morning.

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