Hatton Garden Heist Mastermind Brian Reader Dies Without Revealing Location of Missing £10 Million

Brian Reader, the mastermind behind the infamous 2015 Hatton Garden heist in London, has died at the age of 84 without revealing the location of the missing £10 million in stolen loot.

Reader, known as "The Guvnor" in criminal circles, was the oldest member of the gang of thieves dubbed the "Diamond Wheezers" who carried out the audacious £14 million raid over the Easter bank holiday weekend in 2015.

The Hatton Garden heist was one of the largest robberies in British history. Reader and his gang used heavy cutting equipment to break into the vault of the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit company when many nearby businesses were closed. They ransacked 73 safe deposit boxes, stealing cash, gold, and gems valued at up to £29 million. "The Hatton Garden raid has been described as the largest burglary in English legal history," according to reports.

Despite an extensive police investigation, only around £4 million worth of the stolen property has been recovered so far. The rest, including around £10 million in loot, remains missing. Reader was jailed for six years and three months for his role as the ringleader of the heist. He was released from prison in 2018 after serving just half of his sentence due to health issues.

Why this matters: The Hatton Garden heist captured international attention due to the audacious nature of the crime and the advanced age of the perpetrators. The mystery of the missing £10 million adds an intriguing epilogue to the already sensational story.

Reader died in September 2022 after a battle with prostate and colon cancer. His death was kept secret by his family and associates in the criminal underworld. Reader is the second member of the Hatton Garden gang to pass away, following Terry Perkins who died in prison in 2018. With Reader taking the secret of the missing loot's whereabouts to his grave, it remains unclear if the stolen £10 million will ever be recovered. "Despite the authorities' efforts, the whereabouts of the missing £10 million in stolen loot remains unknown," investigators stated.

Key Takeaways

• Brian Reader, mastermind of 2015 Hatton Garden heist, died at 84.
• Heist stole £14M, with £10M still missing despite police efforts.
• Reader was the oldest member of the "Diamond Wheezers" gang.
• Reader was jailed for 6 years and 3 months, released in 2018.
• Hatton Garden heist was one of the largest robberies in UK history.