Crimes of the Century
3 total works
Fame, notoriety, thrills and money are all part of the game. Using disguises and showing bravado, some used devious or meticulous means to steal what wasn't rightfully theirs, while others simply walked in to a shop or bank with a loaded weapon and demanded what cash was available. The Great Train Robbery is probably the most famous of all those carried out in the 20th century, yet, a relatively modest amount of cash was taken. This notorious heist on the Glasgow to London mail train, made celebrities of the high-profile criminals that masterminded the robbery, which was further heightened when they managed to flee from justice. The most famous member of the 15-strong gang was Ronnie Biggs who became a notorious fugitive. From the most famous robberies including the Great Train Robbery of 1963 with a haul of GBP2.6 million, the Baker Street robbery with an estimated GBP3 million in 1971, to the Brink's-Mat robbery at Heathrow Airport in 1983, and the great financial frauds of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Crimes of the Century - Robberies, gives a fascinating insight into the masterminds behind some of the greatest robberies ever committed.
While many set out to commit the perfect crime and ultimately fail by being caught and convicted, there are a plethora of unsolved cases throughout history. Unsolved Crimes takes a look at numerous unsolved homicides committed throughout the 20th century as well as some carefully planned robberies that still leave the authorities stumped many years later. This book provides a fascinating insight into some of the most riveting cases of the past 100 years including the Black Dahlia, Julia Wallace, Peter Falconio - the British backpacker who disappeared in the Australian outback in July 2001 - and high profile murders such as Jill Dando, Stephen Lawrence, Suzy Lamplugh, Carl Bridgewater and Genette Tate. Serial killers such as Jack the Stripper, the Zodiac Killer and Bible John are investigated as well as the Babes in the Wood killings that horrified the nation and the mysterious deaths of Rudolf Diesel, Natalie Wood and Robert Maxwell are scrutinised. These, and many other cases, still continue to baffle and challenge all those involved and provide a fascinating backdrop to crimes of the 20th century and beyond.
Economic and social change on both sides of the Atlantic saw a sharp rise in gang-related crime at the beginning of the 20th century. Crimes of the Century - Gangsters takes a compelling look at the dark underbelly of society where bootlegging, robbery, crime sprees, threats and corruption were part of everyday life. Throughout all levels of society, the activities of gangsters was rife and many of those involved in organised crime also had long-standing connections with those in authority across banking, finance, businesses, government departments, the legal system and police. Al Capone is perhaps the most infamous gangster and he paid more than $75 million dollars a year to bribe politicians and the police in order to maintain his illegal empire. Making sales of $60 million a year from the sale of illegal alcohol alone, following the 18th Amendment that banned the sale, transportation and manufacture of alcohol in the United States, Capone considered the bribery a worthwhile investment. This book features some of the notorious individuals who ruled through fear and examines the background behind their criminal empires.
The fact that these organised criminals became part of the modern cult of celebrity while their crimes became notable is fascinating and incredible.
The fact that these organised criminals became part of the modern cult of celebrity while their crimes became notable is fascinating and incredible.