The Great Bookie Robbery

This clip from Crime Investigation Australia, Season 1 Ep 2, examines the 'Great Bookie Robbery' in Melbourne on 21 April 1976, one of the biggest heists in Australia’s history. 

A gang of armed robbers, led by known criminal and hard man, Raymond Bennett, stole approximately $16 million from bookmakers at the Victoria Club in Melbourne.

The gang rented an office in the same building and after the robbery, instead of having to make a getaway, they calmly took the money up a few flights to the rented office and kept it in a safe. 

However, word began to spread about who was responsible for the robbery and it was not long before Melbourne’s underworld figures and corrupt police came looking for their cut.

One robber was charged but then acquitted of the crime and the money was never recovered and most of the gang members eventually came to violent ends.