Sean Flynn

He laundered his central bank hall, physically washed it in his swimming pool, which, of course, was bought with money he'd stolen from other banks. If one fancies himself a gentleman thief, that is an awesome flex.

He laundered his central bank hall, physically washed it in his swimming pool, which, of course, was bought with money he'd stolen from other banks. If one fancies himself a gentleman thief, that is an awesome flex.

After the better part of a year, Martin had an enormous pile of artificially weathered and chlorine-soaked bills to transport to Switzerland. But as a general rule, one can't cross international borders with millions in undeclared cash. It has to be smuggled.

After the better part of a year, Martin had an enormous pile of artificially weathered and chlorine-soaked bills to transport to Switzerland. But as a general rule, one can't cross international borders with millions in undeclared cash. It has to be smuggled.

It wasn't a disguise so much as a costume. Martin hadn't hidden his face at all, hadn't pasted on a beard or puttied up his nose. He had to look like his new passport photo. But so what? He was in a foreign country a year after the robbery. He guessed the police had given up investigating months earlier.

It wasn't a disguise so much as a costume. Martin hadn't hidden his face at all, hadn't pasted on a beard or puttied up his nose. He had to look like his new passport photo. But so what? He was in a foreign country a year after the robbery. He guessed the police had given up investigating months earlier.

He made some investments, legitimate ones, insofar as you can make legitimate ones with stolen money. And he did very well. He bought some commercial property, started to develop it. And everything was good.

He made some investments, legitimate ones, insofar as you can make legitimate ones with stolen money. And he did very well. He bought some commercial property, started to develop it. And everything was good.

Paper currency has serial numbers. Remember?

Paper currency has serial numbers. Remember?

Martin is completely screwed. He just doesn't know it yet.

Martin is completely screwed. He just doesn't know it yet.

This was old-school shoe leather police work, asking bank tellers what they remembered about the guy who exchanged Norwegian kroner for Swiss francs. And some of them remembered just enough.

This was old-school shoe leather police work, asking bank tellers what they remembered about the guy who exchanged Norwegian kroner for Swiss francs. And some of them remembered just enough.

A lot of people gave a lot of names to the police, 80 or so altogether. Police gathered the passport photos of those 80 or so people.

A lot of people gave a lot of names to the police, 80 or so altogether. Police gathered the passport photos of those 80 or so people.

That was in November 1981, 18 months after the central bank job.

That was in November 1981, 18 months after the central bank job.

There is, from one perspective, beauty in those smallest of details. Any lunkhead can point a gun at a bank teller and demand money, and those lunkheads almost always get caught. Martin got away with 19 bank robberies because of everything that came before that moment.

There is, from one perspective, beauty in those smallest of details. Any lunkhead can point a gun at a bank teller and demand money, and those lunkheads almost always get caught. Martin got away with 19 bank robberies because of everything that came before that moment.