The myth of the high-tech heist

What’s Happening

Listen up: Making a movie is a lot like pulling off a heist.

That’s what Steven Soderbergh—director of the Ocean’s franchise, among other heist-y classics—dropped a few years ago. You come up with a creative angle, put together a team of specialists, figure out how to beat the technological challenges, rehearse, move with Swiss-watch precision, and—if you Making a movie is a lot like pulling off a heist. (it feels like chaos)

That could describe either the plot or the making of Ocean’s Eleven .

The Details

But conversely, pulling off a heist isn’t much like the movies. Surveillance cameras, computer-controlled alarms, knockout gas, and lasers hardly ever feature in big-ticket crime.

In reality, technical countermeasures are rarely a problem, and high-tech gadgets are rarely a solution. The main barrier to entry is usually a literal barrier to entry, like a door.

Why This Matters

Thieves’ most common move is to collude with, trick, or threaten an insider. Last year a heist cost the Louvre €88 million worth of antique jewelry, and the most sophisticated technology in play was an angle grinder.

Tech companies have been making moves like this as competition heats up.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

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