This week we unravel the infamous “Wine and Cheese Heist” of 1976, masterminded by photographer slash chicken farmer Albert Spaggiari and his 20-man “sewer gang,” who spent months digging a secret tunnel, then casually looted a French bank vault over a holiday weekend, taking their time robbing the place while enjoying a wine and cheese picnic. But a couple of red chisels, stolen gold bars, a CIA tip-off, and one of the most cinematic courtroom escapes in history would ultimately crack the case.

A special thanks to Sarah Schilling for assistance with the research for this case!

SOURCES

• The Heist of the Century: Inside the Société Générale Detectives’ Case. The New York Times. December 19, 1976.
• https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/19/archives/the-heist-of-the-century-inside-the-soci-t-g-n-rale-detectives.html
• French Hero-Criminal Gets Life in Absentia. The New York Times. November 8, 1979.
• https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/08/archives/french-herocriminal-gets-life-in-absentia.html
• Albert Spaggiari, 57, Mastermind of Notorious Riviera Bank Heist. The New York Times. June 12, 1989.
• https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/12/obituaries/albert-spaggiari-57-mastermind-of-notorious-riviera-bank-heist.html
• Mastermind of Notorious Bank Theft in France Dies. Orlando Sentinel. June 12, 1989.
• https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/06/12/mastermind-of-notorious-bank-theft-in-france-dies/
• FRANCE: Bank Heist of the Century. Time.
• https://time.com/archive/6848187/france-bank-heist-of-the-century/
• Suspected Mastermind on Trial for France’s ‘Heist of the Century’. The Guardian. February 12, 2018.
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/jacques-cassandri-suspected-mastermind-societe-generale-france-heist-trial
• French Gangster Jacques Cassandri on Trial for 1976 ‘Heist of the Century’. BBC News.
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43035229
• Albert Spaggiari and the Société Générale Robbery. RivRep.
• https://rivrep.com/history-and-traditions/811-albert-spaggiari-and-the-societe-generale-robbery