Stolen: Heist of the Century - 5 harrowing details about the infamous 2003 Antwerp diamond heist

In the early hours of February 17, 2003, Belgian authorities arrived at the Antwerp Diamond Center expecting to investigate a minor break-in. What they found instead was the aftermath of what would be called “the heist of the century.” A state-of-the-art vault, considered virtually impenetrable, had been emptied.

Over $100 million worth of diamonds, gold, and jewels had vanished without a trace. The scale and sophistication of the crime shocked the world, and left many unanswered questions that still linger today.

After more than twenty years, Netflix's forthcoming documentary Stolen: Heist of the Century revisits the infamous case, diving into the details of the heist’s execution, the mastermind’s team, and the cutting-edge technology used to carry out the seemingly impossible.

The film, which premieres worldwide on August 8, 2025, is produced by Raw, the team behind The Tinder Swindler, and is in collaboration with Amblin Documentaries, which belongs to Steven Spielberg. It is inspired by the nonfiction book Flawless written by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell.

As audiences gear up for the release of Stolen: Heist of the Century, here are five harrowing details that made the Antwerp diamond heist one of the most audacious and mysterious crimes in modern history.

Top 5 harrowing details of the case as will be seen in Stolen: Heist of the Century

1. The vault was supposed to be unbreachable

Stolen: Heist of the Century Source: Netflix

The Antwerp Diamond Center’s vault wasn’t just secure, it was considered impossible to break into. Located two floors underground, it was protected by ten layers of security, including heat and motion sensors, a seismic alarm, Doppler radar, a magnetic field detector, and a vault lock with 100 million possible combinations.

But the thieves, led by mastermind Leonardo Notarbartolo, spent over two years preparing for every obstacle. They rented an office in the building, posed as diamond traders, and studied the security systems down to the tiniest detail, ultimately bypassing every layer with a mix of stealth, ingenuity, and sheer nerve.

2. A sandwich gave them away

Despite the near-perfect execution, the team made one careless mistake, and it cost them everything. After the heist, one of the accomplices discarded trash from their safe house in a nearby forest. A local landowner found it and called police. Among the debris was a partially eaten salami sandwich, which still had Leonardo Notarbartolo’s DNA on it.

This simple oversight became a crucial break in the case. Authorities arrested Notarbartolo just days later, linking him directly to the crime. It remains one of the most ironic and avoidable errors in the history of major heists.

3. The magnetic lock trick was genius

One of the most mind-boggling feats of the heist involved bypassing the vault’s magnetic security system. The alarm relied on the connection between two metal plates; if the magnetic field broke, it would trigger a lockdown.

To get around this, the crew partially unscrewed the plates days before, when the alarm was off, and stuck them together with double-sided tape. Then, during the robbery, they inserted a custom aluminum tool to maintain the magnetic connection while opening the door. The system thought the vault was still sealed the entire time.

4. They defeated the infrared sensor with hairspray and foam

The team’s strategies weren’t just high-tech, they were also surprisingly low-tech and creative. To blind the thermal sensors inside the vault, Notarbartolo sprayed them with ordinary hair spray during a prior visit, creating a temporary film that blocked heat detection.

During the actual robbery, another thief used a polystyrene shield to cover his body heat, ensuring the sensor wouldn't trigger the alarm. These small details, seemingly simple, were part of a greater plan that exploited every vulnerability.

5. Most of the diamonds were never found

Despite arrests and convictions, the loot, estimated to be between $100 million and $500 million, was never recovered. Notarbartolo was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and three other team members received five-year sentences. But the diamonds, gold, and other valuables disappeared into the underground market.

Notarbartolo later claimed the heist was part of an inside job and insurance scam, saying they only took about $20 million and the rest had already been removed. Investigators, however, don’t buy it. With no trace of the gems ever found, the mystery deepens, and Stolen: Heist of the Century promises to take viewers even further down the rabbit hole.

As the Netflix documentary Stolen: Heist of the Century drops on August 8, viewers will get a front-row seat to one of the most meticulously planned and executed heists in modern history. The Antwerp diamond heist remains a masterclass in deception, planning, and, ultimately, human error.