In Brazil, a sophisticated robbery of nearly 720 kilos of gold occurred at Guarulhos Airport, inspired by the popular series "House of Paper" or "Lacazete". The robbers, dressed as federal police officers, used cloned vehicles and took hostage an airport employee and his family to gather information about the gold shipment. The robbery, which took place on July 25, 2019, was meticulously planned and executed in under three minutes, with the help of airport employees and a forklift.
Patrick, a supervisor at the airport's cargo terminal, was the key informant for the robbers. They kidnapped him and his family, threatening to harm them if he didn't cooperate. Patrick provided the robbers with crucial information about the gold shipment, leading them to the export warehouse where the gold was being transported by the Brinks company.
Eight armed men disguised as police officers entered the airport in two fake federal police vehicles. They were armed with various weapons and made airport employees assist them in the theft. In total, they stole 31 lots of gold, worth approximately 29 million dollars.
The robbers used the airport's employees and a forklift to speed up the process, placing the gold in one of the fake vehicles and then fleeing. The two fake vehicles were later found abandoned in the east zone of São Paulo, indicating that the robbers had changed vehicles at least twice to evade capture.
The police arrested Patrick after he confessed to participating in the robbery and helping the thieves. They also arrested another man, Peterson Brazil, who is believed to have convinced Patrick to participate in the robbery. The police are currently investigating the case, with a belief that the same gang or one inspired by them may have carried out a similar robbery at another airport in São Paulo, Viracopos, in 2018.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A robbery occurred at Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, where 720 kilos of gold were stolen.
2. The robbery was carried out by eight armed men disguised as police officers.
3. The robbers used fake federal police vehicles and cloned the vehicles' license plates.
4. They took a relative of an airport employee hostage to obtain privileged information about the cargo.
5. The robbery occurred on July 25, 2019.
6. The robbers stole 31 lots of gold, totaling 1,718 points, nine kilos of gold, valued at approximately $29 million.
7. The gold was being transported by the Brinks company in three armored vehicles to the airport.
8. Part of the gold was intended to be taken to New York and Zurich.
9. The robbers used the airport's own employees and a forklift to speed up the process.
10. The robbery took place in broad daylight in the export warehouse of the airport's cargo terminal.
11. The robbers took two and a half minutes to steal the gold and escape.
12. The fake vehicles were found abandoned on a plot of land in the east zone of São Paulo.
13. Investigations indicate that the gang changed vehicles at least twice to evade the police.
14. An airport employee, Peterson Patrício, was arrested for participating in the robbery.
15. Another man, Peterson Brazil, an acquaintance of Patrício, was also arrested for his involvement in the robbery.
16. A third man, Sérgio Dias, was arrested for providing logistical support to the robbers.
17. The police believe that ten people participated in the robbery.
18. The police are investigating whether the gang that carried out this robbery is the same one that stole $5 million at another airport in São Paulo in 2018.
19. The 2018 robbery also involved five armed men disguised as police officers who stole cash from the airport's cargo terminal.