This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/6245086.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
£53m gang 'cracked secure bunker' Depot robbers 'left £153m behind'
(39 minutes later)
"Bunker-like" security at a Kent depot was breached by a gang of robbers who carried out Britain's biggest cash heist, the Old Bailey has heard. The gang behind the UK's biggest cash robbery left behind £153m because they could not fit any more cash into the getaway lorry, a court has been told.
The court was told the gang got into the Securitas building in Tonbridge and made off with £53m despite CCTV, a steel fence and a locked strong room. The Old Bailey heard how seven masked men stole £53m from the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent, loading it in cages and bags into a 7.5-ton vehicle.
An "inside man" used a miniature camera to film the depot, the court was told. The gang then drove off, leaving almost three-quarters of the cash behind.
Seven men and one woman are on trial and deny charges relating to the robbery in February last year.Seven men and one woman are on trial and deny charges relating to the robbery in February last year.
Sir John Nutting QC, prosecuting, said: "The design of the building is aimed at deterring attack. It looks likes a bunker." 'Bunker-like'
Secret footage Sir John Nutting QC, prosecuting, told jurors: "The only reason why no more than £53m was stolen was because the robbers could not fit any more cages into the lorry."
He told the jury the 24-hour depot was used to store large sums of money for retail outlets, shops and supermarkets as well as the Bank of England. Earlier on Wednesday the court was told the gang penetrated "bunker-like" security at the depot after an "inside man" used a miniature camera to film inside.
Describing the security measures at the site, he said air locks were used to transfer money between vehicles and buildings so the depot itself did not have to be entered. The robbers got inside the building despite CCTV, a high steel fence and a double-locked strong room, Sir John said.
Cash was kept in an internal vault with two doors and a double key system, so it could not be accessed by a single person. Ermir Hysenaj, 27, of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex, is alleged to be the inside man linked to the gang through fellow Albanian Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, the court heard.
Ermir Hysenaj, 27, of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex, is alleged to be the "inside man" linked to the gang through fellow Albanian Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, the court heard. Tuesday 21 February 2006, 1828 GMT: Colin Dixon is stopped by bogus police officers at Detling, Kent.1945: Mr Dixon arrives at Elderden Farm, near Staplehurst, Kent.2020: Two other bogus police officers arrive at the Dixon family home in Herne Bay, Kent and take away Mr Dixon's wife, Lynn, and a young child.2145: Mrs Dixon and the child arrive at Elderden Farm.Wednesday 22 February, 0128: Mr Dixon is taken to the Securitas depot at Tonbridge, where he is forced to gain entry for the robbers.0234: After tying up 14 employees in a cage and stealing £53m in cash, the gang escape.0315: The employees escape and raise the alarm.
The £53m Securitas raid was the UK's largest cash robbery Mr Hysenaj used a tiny camera fitted to his belt to take secret footage of the depot where he worked a month before the robbery, the jury was told.
He used a tiny camera fitted to his belt to take secret footage of the depot where he worked a month before the robbery, the jury was told. The court heard the gang, using knowledge from Mr Hysenaj, kidnapped depot manager Colin Dixon on his way from work.
Sir John said a shop in Derbyshire specialising in surveillance equipment spent two hours fitting the camera not realising why it was required. They then went to the family home in Herne Bay and used prosthetic masks to pose as police officers, and persuaded Mrs Dixon to go with them after saying her husband had been in a car accident, Sir John said.
The court heard the gang, using knowledge from Mr Hysenaj, kidnapped depot manager Colin Dixon his wife and a young child by using prosthetic masks to pose as police officers. At the depot one of the robbers was let in while dressed as an officer and with Mr Dixon next to him, because the staff member thought the police really had been called, the jury was told.
CCTV footage showed the robbers were armed with a Skorpion machine pistol, a pump-action shotgun, a handgun and another firearm.
Employees were handcuffed with cables or forced to lie down or crouch while the gang carried out the robbery.
The 14 workers were then locked in cages.
Lea Rusha, a 35-year-old roofer, from Lambersart Close, Southborough, Kent is alleged to have been "at the heart" of the conspiracy and masterminded the reconnaissance of Mr Dixon's home, the jury was told.Lea Rusha, a 35-year-old roofer, from Lambersart Close, Southborough, Kent is alleged to have been "at the heart" of the conspiracy and masterminded the reconnaissance of Mr Dixon's home, the jury was told.
Sir John said Mr Rusha was linked to a lock-up garage where £8.6million was found and another £1.3million discovered in Ashford. Sir John said Mr Rusha was linked to a lock-up garage where £8.6m was found and to another £1.3m discovered in Ashford.
Prosthetic masksProsthetic masks
He added that Stuart Royle, 48, car salesman of Allen Street, Maidstone, was possibly one of the kidnappers and certainly one of the robbers. The court was told that Stuart Royle, 48, a car salesman of Allen Street, Maidstone, was possibly one of the kidnappers and certainly one of the robbers.
John Fowler, 58, a former business partner of Mr Royle's is alleged to have provided the lorry for the robbery and allowed his home at Elderden Farm, Staplehurst, to be used for the Dixons to be held. John Fowler, 58, a former business partner of Mr Royle's is alleged to have provided the lorry for the robbery and allowed his home at Elderden Farm, Staplehurst, to be used for holding the Dixons.
Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling, Kent, is alleged to have links with the discovery of £9.7million in the town. Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling, Kent, is alleged to have links with the discovery of £9.7m in the town.
Hairdresser Michelle Hogg, 32, of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich, south east London, admitted applying prosthetic masks to four men but denied knowing what they were for.Hairdresser Michelle Hogg, 32, of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich, south east London, admitted applying prosthetic masks to four men but denied knowing what they were for.
Keith Borer, a 53-year-old sign writer of Hempstead Lane, Maidstone, Kent, denies a charge of handling stolen goods.Keith Borer, a 53-year-old sign writer of Hempstead Lane, Maidstone, Kent, denies a charge of handling stolen goods.
All except Mr Borer are charged with conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.All except Mr Borer are charged with conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.
The case continues.The case continues.