12 of the Most Famous Thieves of All Time

History is littered with notorious thieves who made a name for themselves stealing from others. These famous thieves used their cunning to pull off sophisticated heists, making off with millions of dollars worth of cash, jewels, and other valuables. Many of these criminals have captured the imagination of the public thanks to their daring escapades, making headlines around the world.

Some of the most famous thieves in history have become legends in their own right, their exploits inspiring countless books, movies, and TV shows. These legendary thieves come from all corners of the globe and have become celebrated figures, such as Robin Hood and Bonnie and Clyde, while others serve as a warning to anyone contemplating a life of crime. 

From master pickpockets and safe crackers to notorious bank robbers and cat burglars, there have been many famous thieves throughout history who have defied the law and become legends in their own right. Our fascination with the criminal underworld and the stories behind these thieves continues to inspire and entertain, so much so that we have decided to look at some of the most notorious thieves of all time. 

1. Albert Spaggiari

The man behind the Société Générale bank robbery, Albert Spaggiari committed his first crime while serving as a paratrooper in the First Indochina War. He was found guilty by the military court of trying to rob someone at gunpoint and spent four years in jail. Upon his release, he dabbled in political terrorism and worked for the Chilean secret police before breaking into the vault of the Société Générale bank.

Spaggiari and his crew spent two months digging a tunnel from the sewers to the bank vault before they finally broke through on Bastille Day, July 16, 1976. The largest heist at that time, Spaggiari got away with around 100 million francs and a variety of other stolen goods. He and his gang were even believed to have had a picnic in the vault during the robbery, showing just how confident they were about the heist. 

As is often the case with a large-scale robbery, someone started talking and the police began to narrow in on those involved. Spaggiari was arrested returning to Nice and put on trial. During the court case, he devised an escape plan which he executed perfectly, jumping through an open window, landing on a parked car, and then being picked up by an accomplice on a motorcycle. 

Spaggiari remained on the run for the rest of his life, avoiding capture. He was believed to have had plastic surgery and spent most of his time in Argentina before passing from lung cancer in Italy in 1989. 

2. John Dillinger 

American bank robber John Dillinger was one of the most talked about thieves during the Great Depression. The notorious crime figure has entered pop culture with dozens of books, movies, and TV shows based on his exploits. Dillinger positioned himself as a Robin Hood-type figure and the public believed him, despite the fact he was a cold-blooded killer.

He and his gang are said to have robbed 24 banks and attacked four police stations, with Dillinger managing to escape police custody twice during his short reign of terror. While on the run during his final years, Dillinger had plastic surgery to fool police, but to no avail. After brothel owner Ana Cumpănaș ratted Dillinger out to the authorities, the newly formed FBI tracked the bank robbery down and shot him from behind as he exited the Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934.

3. Frank Abagnale Jr.

Portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in Steven Spielberg’s hit movie Catch Me If You Can, Frank Abagnale Jr. is a conman who evaded authorities for several years during the 70s. A fraudster, Abagnale Jr. began his criminal career as a 15-year-old dealing in dodgy cheques.

He impersonated both a pilot and a doctor to fund his lavish lifestyle but was finally caught in 1969 after a tip-off from an Air France flight attendant. Sentenced to a 12-year prison term, Abagnale Jr. fled to Europe where he spent four months in a French prison for theft and two months in a Swedish prison for fraud before finally returning to the United States. 

He didn’t stay out of trouble for long and was captured by the FBI and sentenced to 12 years behind bars, of which he served only two. Once back on the outside, Abangnale Jr. turned his back on a life of crime, opening a successful consulting firm and writing several books about his adventures. Although there have been claims Abangnale exaggerated his criminal past, he remains a fascinating figure. 

4. Bill Mason

In 2004, Bill Mason came to the attention of the wider world when he published his autobiography Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief. In the book, Mason highlights his most famous heists, including robbing a slew of celebrities and high-profile people including Armand Hammer, Bob Hope, and Truman Capote. He even stole athlete-turned-actor Johny Weissmuller’s Olympic gold medal, although it’s believed he returned the award in the post. 

Mason is believed to have stolen somewhere in the vicinity of $35 million during his career as a jewel thief and now resides in New York City. 

5. Jesse James

The leader of the James–Younger Gang was another thief whose reputation has grown over the years since his death over a century ago. The American outlaw and his brother Frank were part of the Confederate army during the Civil War before embarking on a life of crime when the fighting ended. 

Jesse James and his crew gained the sympathy of the public despite being overly vicious during robberies. They targeted banks and trains and were not afraid to leave behind the bodies of those who didn’t do as they were told. Legend has it they would give some of their riches to the poor but there is no evidence this actually happened. 

After a raid on the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876 went tits up, only James and his brother survived. On the run and with the authorities closing in, James tried to establish a new gang, leading to his eventual downfall when new recruit Robert Ford shot him in the back to claim a reward. James’ death only enhanced his reputation which has seen him immortalized on the big screen for decades, with The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford one of the best movies about James’ life. 

6. Vincenzo Peruggia

Not too many people can claim to have stolen from the Louvre and even fewer can claim to have gotten away with one of the world’s most recognized paintings. Vincenzo Peruggia did both when he broke into the famous Paris museum in 1911 and made off with the Mona Lisa. Described as the greatest art theft of the 20th century, Peruggia hid inside the museum until it closed, grabbed the painting, and then left through a back door. 

The brazen thievery shocked the world and nobody had a clue who had stolen the famous artwork, with Peruggia keeping the painting hidden for over two years. His plan was to return the Mona Lisa to Italy out of a sense of national pride. Eventually, he made his way to his homeland and attempted to return the painting for a hefty reward. This resulted in his capture, but Peruggia received a lenient sentence due to his patriotism and was out of jail within a year. He served in World War I before spending the rest of his days as a painter decorator, marrying and having one child before passing in 1925.

7. Doris Payne

Doris Payne is one of America’s most famous jewel thieves. Over the course of six decades, she funded her lifestyle by stealing everything from diamonds and jewelry to high fashion clothing and cold hard cash. One of her most publicized crimes included stealing a $500,000, 10-carat diamond ring while in Monte Carlo in the 70s. Although she was caught, the ring was never recovered. 

The most astonishing thing about Payne is that she continued to steal while in her 80s, spending several months in jail for ripping off clothing and jewelry stores. Now 92, Payne hasn’t been in trouble with the law since 2017 when she was arrested for stealing $86.22 worth of goods from her local Walmart. 

8. Adam Worth

Believed to be the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis James Moriarty, Adam Worth was a career criminal who managed to insert himself into London high society. Born in Germany, he started his illegal activities in the States where he was a pickpocket and bank robber before heading to Europe and getting involved with several high-profile robberies. 

Nicknamed “the Napoleon of the criminal world” due to his short stature, Worth’s most famous heist was when he knocked off Thomas Gainsborough’s celebrated Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire from a London gallery. He liked the painting so much that he kept it for 25 years before returning it for a tidy finders fee of $25,000.

Worth’s luck eventually ran out and he was captured and sentenced to seven years behind bars. He was out within two years and spent the rest of his life with his children in London living a life of luxury “on the proceeds of his business as a receiver for an international agency of thieves.”

9. Bonnie and Clyde 

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were lovers who went on a robbery spree across several states between 1932 and 1934. The public was captivated by the pair’s exploits, who, along with their group, robbed everything from small country stores to funeral homes. The duo had a mean streak though and were responsible for several deaths. 

Like most criminals of that era, Bonnie and Clyde eventually met their bloody demise at the hands of law enforcement. Police set up an ambush on a country road and waited for the two, forcing them to pull over before opening firing, killing the famous couple. Over 130 rounds were fired, with just a quarter finding their mark. 

Bonnie and Clyde have inspired several movies and TV shows over the years, with the most famous being Arthur Penn’s 1967 flick Bonnie & Clyde. Starring Warren Beatty as Clyde and Faye Dunaway as Bonnie, the movie won two Academy Awards and helped inspire the New Hollywood era of cinema. 

10. Derek Smalls

East End London criminal Derek “Bertie” Smalls was the mastermind behind a group of criminals who robbed a Barclay’s Bank branch in 1970, making off with £237,736, which equates to just under $300,000. It might not sound like much, but back in the 70s that was a whole lot of cheese. After the robbery Smalls fled to Paris and later ended up in Spain before he got word the police were on to him. 

Facing 25 years in jail, Smalls turned informant to save his own skin. Not only did he agree to give up those that participated in the Barclay’s Bank robbery, but Smalls detailed every criminal interaction he had ever been involved in. He was the first true supergrass and the only man to strike a deal that resulted in him being pardoned for all his crimes and escaping any jail time. 

11. Carl Gugasian

Carl Gugasian is one of America’s great bank robbers. A former army officer with an Ivy League education, Gugasian decided to dedicate himself to a life of crime and is believed to have robbed somewhere in the vicinity of 50 banks over a three-decade period. During that time he stole around $2 million and gained the nickname, “The Friday Night Bank Robber,” due to the fact he carried out his crimes on Friday nights. 

Gagosian was caught in 2002 when plans and equipment he had hidden for an upcoming robbery were discovered. Initially sentenced to 115 years, Gugasian came clean about all his crimes for a shorter sentence and spent 17 years inside. He was released in 2017 at the age of 69. 

12. Stephen Blumberg

Unlike most criminals that steal to get rich, Stephen Blumberg stole because he likes books. Known as the “Book Bandit,” Blumberg was arrested in 1990 after it was discovered he had stolen more than 23,600 books worth $5.3 million. Now we aren’t talking about your standard airport novel, with Blumberg going for rare books he found in museums, libraries, and universities. 

Blumberg was caught when his friend Kenneth J. Rhodes turned him in to the police for a $56,000 reward. Despite being diagnosed with several mental illnesses, Blumberg was sentenced to jail and spent four and a half years behind bars. Upon his release, he continued to commit crimes and has been in and out of prison for burglaries over the last 30 years.