What is the series about?

Stolen: Heist of the Century (Netflix, 2025) is a documentary series directed by Mark Lewis, which in its first episode outlines the spectacular heist at Antwerp Diamond Center in February 2003. The series is based on the book 'Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History' written by Scott Selby and Greg Campbell. Through interviews with investigators and for the first time an on-camera interview with the mastermind himself, Leonardo Notarbartolo, the story unfolds of how a group of Italian criminals outsmarted one of the world's most advanced security systems. The documentary focuses on the technical details of the heist, but also on the banal mistakes during the escape that led to the gang's arrest.

The real case

The real case of the Antwerp Diamond Center Heist took place over the weekend of February 15 and 16, 2003, in the heart of Antwerp, Belgium. Mastermind Leonardo Notarbartolo had rented an office in the building for months leading up to the heist to gain access and map out the complex security measures, including infrared sensors, magnetic fields, and a lock with over 100 million possible combinations. Together with specialists Elio D'Onorio and Ferdinando Finotto, the group managed to empty 123 out of 160 boxes of diamonds, gold, and jewelry valued at around 100 million dollars. Despite the technically perfect execution, the group was caught due to a poorly planned escape. On their way to Brussels, they chose to dispose of their waste on a private property belonging to August Van Camp. Here, the police found crucial evidence, including a receipt from a supermarket that linked Notarbartolo directly to the case.

Timeline of the case

The events surrounding the heist in Antwerp are marked by extreme planning and subsequent legal repercussions. In 2003, Leonardo Notarbartolo was arrested shortly after the incriminating evidence was found at the edge of the forest. Although he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2005, and his accomplices received sentences of five years each, the majority of the stolen diamonds have never turned up. The case is now considered one of the most sophisticated burglaries in history. You can read more about similar cases in our archive of Leonardo Notarbartolo and Antwerp Diamond Heist or see the overview of criminal cases from Belgium .

Watch the series

Stolen: Heist of the Century can be streamed on Netflix starting August 8, 2025. The documentary is ideal for viewers interested in true crime, where the focus is on methodology, surveillance, and police investigations rather than violent crimes.

Similar series on Truecrime News

If you are interested in major heists and advanced crime, we also recommend checking out documentaries in the Heist genre or reading our in-depth articles on historical bank robberies and diamond thefts around the world.

Sources

• Netflix: Stolen: Heist of the Century Official Page
• Wired: The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Diamond Heist
• Scott Selby: Flawless - Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History

Reviews

"This is a documentary that recognizes the most essential quality of the story it's telling is that it's almost too elaborate to be believed." — Rotten Tomatoes (Critics) (Mixed)

"No stars. No fat. Nothing to show us except the aftermath of a well-executed theft... But a good story is a good story, and this is one." — Wall Street Journal (Positive)