Gems raid police go global in hunt for fugitive ‘Basil’
THE search for fugitive “Mr Big”, the computer expert who helped mastermind the Hatton Gardens gems heist, has gone global.
CCTV image of 'Mr Big' of the Hatton Gardens gems heist
The Metropolitan Police now believe the shadowy gangland figure known only as “Basil” has almost certainly slipped the country.
So detectives have released a file on the master thief to crime-fighting agencies Interpol and Europol.
It details all they know about the only outstanding suspect involved in last Easter’s £14million raid.
They used a diamond tip drill to bore a 25cm by 45cm hole through a concrete wall to steal 73 boxes
Scotland Yard say Basil is a computer expert and trained engineer responsible for overriding the alarm and security system.
CCTV images from the raid show him wearing a mask, glasses, ginger wig and hat.
He is said to be a master thief recruited by ringleader Brian Reader, 76, for his expertise in disabling complicated alarm systems.
Only veteran crook Reader knows Basil’s true identity but has followed the old school code of silence.
The Met has issued a £20,000 reward for any information that identifies Basil.
(Top L-R) Perkins, Collins, Jones and Reader. (Bottom L-R) Doyle, Lincoln and Wood
William Lincoln, 60, Carl Wood, 58, and Hugh Doyle, 48, were found guilty of pulling off Britain’s biggest burglary at the Hatton Garden Safety Deposit Ltd in London.
Fellow gang members Reader, John Collins, 75, Terry Perkins, 67 and Daniel Jones, 60, had already pleaded guilty.
They used a diamond tip drill to bore a 25cm by 45cm hole through a concrete wall to steal 73 boxes.