Reaction to major thefts

Reaction to major thefts

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It is interesting to compare the police and press reaction to the alleged £365 million theft from Langbar and the much smaller £53 million theft from Securitas.

The alleged theft of £365 million from Langbar has been reported on the financial pages - the company is AIM listed (although now suspended). The Serious Fraud Office is said to be taking an interest in the matter.

Exactly one-seventh of this amount was stolen in the robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge. The newspapers have been full of the story. Page after page has been devoted to it. A very large and intensive police investigation has been underway, resulting in multiple arrests and the recovery of about one third of the amount stolen.

If one were an intelligent and thoughtful criminal intent on stealing a large amount of money, which method should one use to maximise the yield and minimise the risk of imprisonment? Robbery from a secure depot or fraud from a company?

David Winch

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Dennis Howlett
By dahowlett
15th Mar 2006 12:48

fraud every time
If you look at the stats, the SFO has always had a hard time prosecuting fraud and in the minds of many it is a victimless crime because it frequently involves non-human entities.

But robbery is a crime against the person and that is always treated as being 'grave' in the eyes of the law as well as the public.

Look at the non-qualified guy at 2 Jags office who drew 4 years for swiping £867K - however you look at it, it's a decent payday plus a relatively short (he'll do 2 years) at HM Pleasure in a minimum security nick. Think Geoffrey Archer.

BTW -that's absolutely NOT advice.

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