http://www.vijaytapanchal.com/millennium-set/
Busted: the Millennium Dome Diamond Heist
Built in celebration of Y2K, the Millennium dome was conceived under a John Major-led conservative government to celebrate the coming of the third millennium. In the planning stages much hype surrounded the dome. It was to be ‘London’s answer to the Eiffel Tower’ and ‘the envy of the world’. However, critics claimed it to be a ‘White Elephant’ and a ‘triumph of insignificance’ saying that the £758m price tag could have been far better spent on improving education, health care, sports facilities or affordable housing.
The dome was never far from the headlines for overspending or corruption claims; but whilst most of this news has faded away, one story remains strong in the mind of the public: that of the dome diamond thieves. This group of men had plotted an extraordinarily ambitious raid on the dome to steal the Millennium Star, a 203 carat, flawless stone which is one of the world’s most iconic diamonds; as well as the Millennium Jewels and 12 blue diamonds that were part of a De Beers exhibition and worth upwards of £350million.
It was a heist of Hollywood proportions involving smoke grenades, sledgehammers, automotive weapons and a get-away speedboat. However, even with all these tools and months of meticulous planning, it wasn’t enough to get the goods; the men were arrested by armed police within moments of crashing into the dome with a JCB and De Beers had already switched the diamonds with crystal replicas after being warned by the police that a raid was imminent.
The successful police operation was a result of months of planning and involved more than 100 officers and members of the Metropolitan Police’s elite Flying Squad. There was a window of 24 days when police believed that the heist would be attempted, and during this time, armed officers disguised as tourists and cleaners (concealing their weapons in bin bags) where lying in wait for the gang. They pounced as four robbers tried to break their way into the display using sledgehammers and a nail gun, after first donning gas masks and setting off smoke bombs and ammonia gas in the vault. A further five men were arrested following raids in a hotel in London and in the villages of Collier Street, and Horsmoden in west Kent.
Had it been successful, the Dome diamond raid would have been the biggest robbery of all time, though police believed that the diamonds would have been very difficult to sell on, as they were so well known.
About the Author
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
YugiOH Card Collection – The Lost Millennium (TLM) Set (All 1st Edition)
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1991 STAR CO KEVIN MAAS MILLENNIUM SET YANKEES RARE $1.99 |
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Star Wars Lego 4488 Millennium Falcon mini set 100% complete $29.99 |
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1999 Canada Millennium Quarter Set with RCM Folder MINT $15.00 |
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Walt Disney World Millennium Pin Set $139.99 |
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Re-Animator (DVD, 2002, 2-Disc Set, Millennium Edition) $20.00 |
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2000 MILLENNIUM MONOPOLY BOARD GAME MIB COLLECTOR SET $39.99 |
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1999-2003 COMMEMORATIVE QUARTERS, GOLD, PLATINUM & MILLENNIUM. 15 SET LOT! NICE! $49.99 |
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Hong Kong Beyond Best of Millennium 2CD set $69.99 |
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Millennium Family Encyclopedia Set 1 3 4 5 HB $19.99 |
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2011 STAR WARS MILLENNIUM FALCOM 4 Coin 1oz Silver Proof Coin Set $517.49 |
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WEDGEWOOD MILLENNIUM TEACUP SET $21.99 |
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Farberware Millennium 10 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set New, Factory Sealed $97.00 |
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Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel Six Robot Old Millennium Pin Set No. 1 $35.00 |
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MILLENNIUM CHAMPAGNE FLUTES…SET OF 2…UNIQUE !….NEW IN BOX ! $6.99 |
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The Party: Millennium Sydney Gay + Lesbian Mardi Gras 2000gether 2 CD’s SET RARE $15.50 |
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Walt Disney World 2000 Millennium Die Cast Set $49.99 |
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DC’S MILLENNIUM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 FULL SET 1987-1988 $5.99 |
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New Pottery Barn Millennium Plate Dish 12p Set 1900-Future Decade Era Highlights $133.49 |
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Farberware Millennium 10 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set New, Factory Sealed $97.00 |
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Disney Happy New Year 2000 Millennium Bean Bag Set w/tag Goofy Mickey & Donald $9.99 |
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MILLENNIUM 1-8 complete set (Manhunters, Guardians, JLA) $14.95 |
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LUIS ROYO – Royo Millennium – 72 Card Fantasy Art All Omnichrome Set $24.99 |
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MI Hummel The Wanderers Millennium Set MINT NEW RARE EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION $1,300.00 |
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2000 Millennium Beanie Babies McDonalds Happy Meals Toys Set 11 Free Shipping $19.95 |
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1999 Canada Millennium 25 cent coin set $14.99 |
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Pin# 455 Disney Pin Set – Fab 5 Astronaut MOOD Pins from Millennium 2000 – Rare $249.00 |
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HobbyZone HBZ9010 Decal/Sticker Set Millennium PTU New $2.87 |
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ZIG MILLENNIUM 5 pc 05 (.45 mm) Marker Set (Black Red Yellow Green Blue) BNIP $7.99 |
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ZIG MILLENNIUM 5 pc 01 (.25 mm) Marker Set (Black Red Yellow Green Blue) BNIP $7.99 |
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ISLE OF MAN 1979 MILLENNIUM OF TYNWALD UNC 5 CROWN SET – COMPLETE – MANX, IoM $23.07 |
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VINTAGE 2000 BUDWEISER CHAMPAGNE MILLENNIUM GIFT SET UNOPENED IN BOX $49.95 |
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2000 MILLENNIUM COIN AND CURRENCY SET LIMITED EDITION 75000 UNOPENED $80.00 |
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BEAR HERMANN MOHAIR MILLENNIUM SET BIRTH OF NEW 2000 END OF OLD 1999 HTF AS PAIR $250.00 |
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Might & Magic MILLENNIUM Edition PC\CD 6 CD Set $29.99 |
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1999 The Millennium Commemorative Anno Domini £5 Coin Gift Set in Display Case $55.29 |
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Hits Of The Millennium – 2 CD Set RARE Japan CD 80s90s (Remaster) Bonnie Tyler $7.99 |
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6 Piece set of Hunter Green Towels-Made in the USA 1888 Millennium $39.99 |
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Littleton Coin Folder LCF29 Millennium Type Set 1999-2000 $2.99 |
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COLLECTORS – WALT DISNEY WORLD MILLENNIUM DIE CAST SET “2000″ $31.99 |
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Millennium From CNN (VHS, 1999, 5-Tape Set) $25.99 |
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1999-00 New Jersey Devils BAP Millennium Team Set $3.99 |
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Jagermeister Steins & Shot Glasses Set, Jagerfest Millennium Edition, 4 Pieces $10.00 |
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PLAYSKOOL STAR WARS MILLENNIUM FALCON ADVENTURE-GALACTIC HEROES SET $99.99 |
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MILLENNIUM STAR ATLAS SET VOLUME I II III – 1997 Sinnott Perryman Soft-Cover ! $26.00 |
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CANADA 2000 MILLENNIUM 25 CENTS SETS $9.79 |
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Steiff Gondola Set with 4 Teddy Bears, Tiger, Monkey for Millennium Carousel NEW $199.00 |
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CANADA 1999 MILLENNIUM 25 CENTS SETS $9.79 |
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Set Of 2 Star Wars Ice Trays MILLENNIUM FALCON + X-WING NEW Silicone Kotobukiya $19.99 |
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CANADA 13 COINS SET 2000 COINS MILLENNIUM MINT $39.99 |
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CANADA 1999 MILLENNIUM 25 CENTS SETS $19.58 |
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Rubbermaid 50-Piece Easy Find Lids Food Storage Set $26.43 Easy Find Lids 50 Piece Set Includes Lids and Containers Lids Snap to Base and Other Lid Lids Nest Inside Each Other Extra Clear Base to Easily See Contents One Lid Fits Multiple Containers… |
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Vacu Vin Glass Markers Party People, Set of 12 $2.99 Give each glass or guest a unique character by sticking one of the characters to his or her glass. Each party people figure attaches with a suction cup to any smooth surface, even when wet. For best adhesion, wash the markers in warm, soapy water before first use.This set includes 12 unique party people characters, each with a different name, shape and color.If you’d like to add gift wrapping and… |
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Soiree bottle-top Wine Decanter & Aerator $19.00 This classy aerator is a gift worthy crystal ball that can show you all the complexities of the wine you are about to drink. Fitting securely on the bottle top, it pours and decants in one step. Soiree takes the fuss out of traditional decanting and makes a pretty pour! Includes gaskets for a universal fit, instructions and bottle stopper…. |
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Snoop Sisters Complete Series $29.62 Not content with fictional crimes, elderly, eccentric mystery writers Ernesta (Helen Hayes) and Gwendolyn (Mildred Natwick) Snoop put their keen minds and sharp wits to good use solving real ones in this 1972-74 segment of “The NBC Mystery Movie.” With Lou Antonio as Barney, an ex-con who served as the ladies’ driver and bodyguard, and Bert Convy as their police lieutenant nephew, Steve Ostrowski…. |
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Dark Side of the Moon $24.43 The 2011 vinyl edition presents the original studio album, digitally remastered in 2011 by James GuthrieOriginally released in 1973, The Dark Side of The Moon became Pink Floyd’s first number 1 album in the US, remaining on the chart for 741 weeks between 1973 and 1988. One of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed albums of all time, The Dark Side of The Moon also introduced the iconic al… |
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The Best Of The Platters: The 20th Century Masters (Millennium Collection) $2.59 A vocal talent of astonishing range and emotion, Tony Williams led the Platters through nearly two dozen Top 40 pop hits, starting in 1955. The Platters drew inspiration from predecessors such as the Mills Brothers, yet had a style all their own that came to be treasured by the first generation of rock & roll and doo-wop fans. This set features the group’s Top 10 smashes “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,”… |
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Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition [Blu-ray] $45.00 Four-disc set includes the extended versions of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2009), “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.” 11 hrs. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: Swedish DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio, English DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio; Subtitles: English; “making of” documentary; featurettes; interviews; theatrical trailers; more. In Swedish with En… |
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The Stieg Larsson Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / The Girl Who Played with Fire / The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) [Blu-ray] $34.95 Four-disc set includes “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” and a special disc packed with exclusive features…. |
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CNN’s Millennium Boxed Set [VHS] $79.98 A thousand years in 10 hours is an ambitious project, to say the least. But the team at CNN succeeds with its now-typical aplomb, as the team that brought us Cold War shares with us Millennium. “We know the history of our own country,” narrator Ben Kingsley intones. But this series purports to give us “history from a global perspective, not through the eyes of the West.” Using reenactments and im… |
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2 Black Berkey Replacement Water Filters – Big Berkey $106.00 Set of 2 replacement filters. Will fit the following Berkey systems: Travel Berkey, Big Berkey, Royal Berkey, Imperial Berkey, Crown Berkey, Berkey Light. Black Berkey Purification Elements are more powerful than any other gravity filter element currently available. In fact, we tested the Black Berkey purification elements with more than 10,000 times the concentration of pathogens per liter than i… |