'Hatton Garden heist gang spent three years planning raid and watched YouTube videos to train'

In the dock: A court sketch of (l-r) defendants Carl Wood, William Lincoln, Jon Harbinson and Hugh Doyle
PA
Paul Cheston23 November 2015
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The Hatton Garden heist gang spent three years planning what was "the largest burglary in British criminal history", a court heard today.

The raid over this year’s Easter weekend was three years in the planning and internet searches for a drill to blast a way into safety deposit box vault were made in August 2012, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

The raiders were in the safe deposit building undetected over four days to secure their massive haul of gold, jewellry and cash, the jury was told.

They even broke off in the middle of the raid to go and buy new equipment, the court heard.

By May last year a specific drill had been identified and Youtube clips viewed with demonstrations of the tool working, the court heard.

Philip Evans, prosecuting, told Woolwich Crown Court that “a very substantial quantity of gold, jewellry, precious stones, cash and other items” were stolen from 88-90 Hatton Garden.

The gang broke in on April 2 but were still there undetected on April 4.

Hole in the wall: The gang drilled a hole in the wall to gain access
Metropolitan Police

“The enterprise was only partially successful and the burglars had to return with more new equipment to finish the job,” said M Evans.

The raid was “a considerable time in the planning” and police were able to trace its origins from analysing the raiders’ computers.

Four men with a combined age of 276 years have admitted their part in the heist.

John Collins, 75 of Islington, Daniel Jones, 58 of Enfield, Terry Perkins, 67 of Enfield, and Brian Reader, 76 of Orpington, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and will be sentenced later.

Collins, known as Kenny, was one of the ringleaders and at his Islington home police found a large amount of cash, watches, coins, jewellry and a money counter.

Jones was “at the heart of the extensive planning” and had regular meetings before and after the raid often on Friday nights at pubs such as the Castle in the Pentonville Road.

“Jones was at the burglary throughout. And was instrumental in gaining access to the vault and after the first night failure he and Collins obtained the further equipment,” said Mr Jones.

At his home police found facemasks, a drill and cash. He also hid jeswellry from the raid in a cemetery on Edmonton, the court heard.

The four defendants in the dock are Carl Wood, 58 of Cheshunt, William Lincoln, 59 of Bethnal Green, Jon Harbinson, 42 of Benfleet and Hugh Doyle, 48 of Enfield.

Wood, Lincoln and Harbinson deny conspiracy to burgle between May last year and April this year.

They have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to conceal, convert or transfer criminal property between January and May.

Doyle also denies an alternative charge of concealing, converting or transferring criminal property.

The case continues.

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