With the release of “Bank Robbers: The Last Great Heist,” audiences are once again drawn into the thrilling world of high-stakes crime and daring heists. The film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker David Yarovesky, follows a group of skilled criminals as they plan and execute a daring robbery on a prominent financial institution.
Produced by James Gunn, the Superman-inspired retelling with a horror twist imagines a youngster who crash-lands on Earth but transforms into a villain rather than a hero.
As viewers are captivated by the intense action and suspenseful moments depicted on screen, many are left wondering: Is “Bank Robbers: The Last Great Heist” based on a true story?
Is the Great Heist Based on a True Story?
The Great Heist is inspired by a true story about a group of criminal masterminds.
According to an earlier Vanguardia article, the burglars spent around three months preparing for the horrible deed, making links with various gangs and police officers along the way.
They allegedly meant to take a much smaller sum of money. As El Tiempo suggests, they allegedly extended the operation once they discovered how much cash was held in the vault.
On Oct. 21, 1994, just a few days after the robbery, Colombia’s Banco de la República ordered all banks, financial institutions, and commercial institutions to change the serial numbers of the currencies they handled, according to a previous UPI state.
The bank is believed to have recognized the banknotes. It is understood that they revoked the value of the stolen banknotes, rendering them ineligible for use.
The crime caused long-term damage to the country’s banking system, particularly in the north, resulting in severe delays at most branches.
According to El Heraldo, the operation was led by Benigno Suárez Rincón, also known as “Don Pacho,” and Alexander Flórez Salcedo. They recruited Police Lieutenant Juan Carlos Carrillo Peña, Chief of the Sijín Jaime Bonilla Esquivel, Lieutenant César Augusto Barrera, and Second Lieutenant Jairo Alberto Barón. Fabio Guillermo Guzmán was eventually identified as the one who established contact with the uniformed personnel from the financial institution.
Elkin Susa, also known as “Camilo,” financed the robbery with 120 million pesos and welding equipment to get entry to the vault.
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The robbers were finally apprehended, and Esquivel initially turned himself in on November 1, 1994. He was assassinated in 2004.
Marco Emilio Zabala, the bank manager, was also implicated in the crime, though he consistently denied any involvement. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison and was exonerated in 1998 since there was no evidence or testimony indicating that he had taken part.
