Two Loomis security guards stole £7million in cash from Credit Suisse bank in a Heathrow Airport heist described as "one of the biggest in British criminal history", a court heard.
Jurors heard the pair are accused of staging a fake robbery in a classic "inside job" which was worthy of a Hollywood script. The 28 bags of cash weighing nearly half a tonne have never been recovered.
Mohammad Siddique, 31 and Ranjeev Singh, 40, are on trial at Kingston Crown Court both charged with conspiracy to steal the cash belonging to the Swiss Bank.
The money was picked up by their Loomis intentional truck to deliver to the Bank of Ireland. Jurors learned they picked up the money from the BA cargo depot at around 8.30am with Siddique driving the armoured van and Singh the security guard.
Shortly after leaving the depot, Singh went to the toilet, but when he came out Siddique had driven off with the £7million in cash. Instead of raising the alarm Singh waited for 20 minutes, smoked a cigarette, before telling colleagues in another van what had happened.
In the meantime it is alleged the cash was being transferred from the Loomis security van into a second vehicle parked in a quiet secluded road in Feltham, west London.
The jury were told the pair, along with others, allegedly staged the heist on the van. Siddique was found a few hours later tied up in a remote area near Gerrard's Cross.
The defendants were described as "firm friends" and had requested to be partnered for their rounds, which was not usual protocol, but was agreed by Loomis. The prosecution claim that Siddique has admitted his involvement and said he had no choice because "his family were threatened".
The jury were told Rafaqat Hussain, 41, has already pleaded guilty to his part in the plot, and was described as one of the organisers. Siddique, of Slough, Berkshire, and Singh also of Slough, both deny one count of conspiracy to steal £7million from Credit Suisse. The trial continues.
