Is the Holborn Fire linked to the £200M diamond heist in London

[Stuart]

The ex head of the flying squad has speculated that the robbers who stole £200m worth of diamonds from Hatton Garden may have been involved with, or even started, the Holborn fire.
See Here.


While it does sound a lot like the plot from Ocean's Eleven, it is also possible. That fire did cause massive disruption to the electricity supply in the area (Hatton Garden is only a mile or two from Holborn, so would likely be on the same networks), and caused disruption to comms networks all over London. It's possible that it also affected the security systems protecting the diamonds.

Yes, I know that the systems are likely to have a backup power supply, and it would make sense for them to use wireless comms networks (such as the Mobile phone networks) as a backup should their wired connection to the security company fail, but even wireless networks require power and data comms. If the whole area was out, it's likely that several cell towers were taken out as well.

I think if this is the case, we will never have official confirmation as it calls into question the security of some very rich and powerful companies. Something which they cannot tolerate if they wish to carry on trading, after all, who is going to trust a company that says it is secure then is robbed? It is possible though.

What do you think? Does it all sound a little too much like Ocean's 11 (their heist was very similar), or do you think it possible?

[BenMcr]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...ectrical-fault

The Metropolitan police said there was nothing in the investigation so far to suggest a link with the raid.

[Stuart]

I did make clear it was one man speculating.. But as I said, the I don't think the Police are ever going to admit to such a link because it would show a potential weakness in the security of the companies in the area.

Remember, companies like the one storing the diamonds stay in business BECAUSE people think they are secure. The minute there is a suggestion they aren't, they will not be in business. It's the same thing as Banks never really admitting they have been hacked and lost money as a result.

Either way, it may be speculation, but I find it to be interesting speculation.

[richard s]

Wonder if they were insured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_PX1cVuaVA

[Hom3r]

Some people weren't and items they had there were family heirlooms.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Stuart, l think you are spot on. And the Police and fire service wont admit it.

IF, you think about it. The fire that was underground could have been caused by too much power going into one area. These are massive tools, and they would have been powered by large amounts of power - would not have been petrol or diesel motors, these would have been too noisy.

And l cannot understand how people in the flats in the building - didn't hear anything, especially with the lifts not working - they climbed down the left shaft, if l am right.

Or it could have been a 'distraction' from the Hatton Gardens and it is almost certain had to be an inside job.

To get through all that security had yo have inside knowledge.

There was a documentary on the Gem market in Hatton Garden on TV and it was interesting to watch. The strange thing was - there is a firm that goes round hovering up gold, and giving it back to the merchants at a fee. THIS was in the prog, not just be saying it either

There is more to the heist, that makes people wonder.

[Stephen]

Its entirely possible this was in some way related but at the sametime its stories like this that get the tin hat brigade all worked up.

It totally sounds like a plot from a movie though.

Arthur these 'power tools' were designed to be used they don't use masses of electricity and would not cause a surge!

[Uncle Peter]

According to the Telegraph report an alarm went off somewhere in the building but the security guard only checked the main doors.

You would think if the place were that secure they would have cctv in the vaults.

Either way the fire theory is an interesting one. Somehow the thieves would have had to lug that big drill and a 110v transformer somewhere in the vicinity of the building they broke into in order to get to the lift shaft. That surely has to be caught on street level cctv *if* it's operational.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Stephen

It totally sounds like a plot from a movie though.

It is, to a large extent, the same as the plot from Ocean's 11. Doesn't mean it's not possible though.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

There is a suggestion that the police didn't go to an alarm call at the Diamond dealers. The strangest thing is that in London alarms go off all the time, by accident.

So surely, the police failed to attend this one - isn't there fault.

The diamond dealers should have had a better alarm system, surely it should have had sensor pads, and laser lights. We could be talking millions here.

Surely a better alarm system ?

[Pierre]

I think it's great, like something out of a film.

Abseiling down a lift shaft, breaking through a concrete floor, going through 2 or 3 steel doors, and doing it on a bank holiday weekend so they have 3 days to do it.

It takes great planning and skills.

A proper good old fashioned heist.

[denphone]

Here are pictures of the hole drilled by burglars at Hatton Garden.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...lflow_facebook

[heero_yuy]

Credit where credit's due. This was a very well executed heist that must have had some serious planning with the bonus that nobody got hurt.

[denphone]

Seven men arrested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32799703

[Osem]

Seems like a good result. Love to know how...