It Was England's Biggest Burglary Ever. Now, an Arrest

Man linked to 2015 heist arrested following London raid
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 28, 2018 3:54 PM CDT
Suspect in Daring Jewelry Heist May Finally Be Caught
An intruder is seen in the fire escape corridor of Hatton Garden Safe Deposit during a 2015 heist.   (Metropolitan Police photo via AP)

A new arrest in what prosecutors have dubbed the largest burglary in English history comes almost three years to the day after thieves stole more than $20 million in cash and jewels in a brazen heist in London. Several men were convicted in the 2015 crime and sentenced to six to seven years in prison, per the New York Times. But police said another suspect known as Basil—believed to have let the thieves into Hatton Garden Safe Deposit through a door leading to a fire escape—remained at large. Though he wasn't identified as the mysterious Basil, who's seen in security camera footage from the heist, Scotland Yard announced the arrest of a 57-year-old man linked to the break-in on Tuesday.

Police said the arrest on suspicion of non-residential burglary came after "a number of items" were seized in an early morning raid at the unidentified man's home in London, reports Metro. The man remains in custody, per the BBC. The Guardian points out police have never stopped hunting Basil, who's also suspected of disabling an alarm before thieves broke into 73 safe deposit boxes, making off with cash, gems, gold, and platinum. Authorities had even offered a $28,000 reward for information leading to his arrest, per the Times. Ringleaders have claimed they never knew Basil's real name. One previously described Basil as a former police officer employed in private security, but prosecutors say that might not be the truth. (More jewel heist stories.)

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