The Dunbar Armored robbery

The Dunbar Armored robbery is the largest cash robbery in the US. It occurred in 1997 at the Dunbar Armored facility at 550 S Hill Street, Los Angeles. The thieves made off with $18.9m.

The robbery was masterminded by Allen Pace, who worked for Dunbar as a regional safety inspector. Pace photographed the company's Los Angeles armored car depot. He recruited five friends, and on the night of September 13, 1997, Pace used his keys to enter the facility. Once inside, they ambushed the guards one by one. In half an hour, the robbers had loaded millions of dollars into a waiting U-Haul. They almost got away with it — except for a broken tail light and a critical mistake ... a robber didn't remove the straps from around the loot.

But the clue was of little value until Eugene Lamar Hill Jr. was identified as a suspect 2 years later. Hill had rented a 14-foot U-Haul truck a day before the heist and had returned it a day later. When arrested, Hill had a stack of bills bearing the same money wrappers as those taken in the Dunbar robbery. Hill confessed and led authorities to the others.

Hill fingered his accomplices and all were convicted. Allen Pace was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison. Cops believe that Pace and his fellow bandits spent several million dollars on homes, cars and gambling sprees before their arrests. They say as much as $10m is still hidden somewhere.