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Diamond stories are forever

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Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History” by Scott Selby & Greg Campbell

In 2003, Leonardo Notarbartolo stole more than $100,000,000 in diamonds from the heavily (but lazily) guarded Diamond Center in Antwerp, Belgium. It was the largest diamond heist in history.

Notarbartolo got caught, went to prison and refused to discuss the crime for six years. Then, in 2009, he granted Wired a tell-all interview. He admitted that he was put up to it by a diamond dealer who kept his goods in the Diamond Center vault. Notarbartolo explained that the dealer asked him to steal the diamonds so the dealer could collect insurance money. Notarbartolo revealed that the dealer had assembled an exact replica of the Diamond Center vault for Notarbartolo to practice on — (how very Ocean's Eleven of them).

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Scott Selby & Greg Campbell, authors of Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History
March 26, 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble, 567 N. Stephanie St., 434-1533.

One problem with the Wired interview: Notarbartolo was lying. What really went down in Antwerp wasn't nearly as romantic. What really went down involved a lot less Hollywood and a lot more waiting, observing, caution and careful reasoning.

If you want to hear the specifics of the real story, head to Barnes & Noble in Henderson on March 26. Authors Scott Selby and Greg Campbell (the guy who wrote Blood Diamonds) will read from their new book, Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History.

And then, if you like it, you can buy a copy. Or maybe steal one.

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