Top 10 Greatest Thieves of All Time (2022)

This article discusses the top 10 greatest thieves of all time who are also the top 10 most famous thieves in the world. The truth is, thieves are one of the most interesting characters of all time, whether in novels, newspapers, or movies. They have a perilous but thrilling life filled with dangers and unknowns.

They have stolen virtually everything under the sun, including great artworks from museums and vast sums of money. While you would prefer not to meet these men in person, their powers are evident.

These con artists have amassed one of the world’s largest debts, which has been acquired right under our noses. Keep an eye on your wallet; these infamous robbers would steal it in a heartbeat.

So we have compiled a list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time, who were recognized for not just living an exciting and adventurous lifestyle, but also for committing some of history’s most memorable robberies.

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Top 10 Greatest Thieves of All Time

The table below contains the names, ages, and nationalities, of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time.

1. Doris Payne

The greatest thief ever is Doris Payne.

She is a well-known thief who is well-known throughout the region. Payne targeted a number of high-end boutiques and retailers during the course of her five-year career.

More so, she made a lot of money by impersonating a wealthy customer in search of her engagement ring, which led to a large heist. Despite the fact that she had been carrying out such robberies for years, she was sentenced to two years in prison at the age of 83.

Doris Payne is a cult character as one of the world’s most famous jewel thieves; her six decades of criminal exploits were immortalized in a 2013 documentary (in which she starred) that included the story of her most famous heist – a $500,000 10-carat diamond ring in Monte Carlo in 1970.

2. Butch Cassidy

The second person on the list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time is Butch Cassidy. He was the leader of the Wild Butch Organization, a well-known thieving gang. He and his sidekick, Sundance Kid, were well-known for their historic robberies. The couple and their gang were notorious for robbing trains and banks.

The Pinkerton Detective Agency quickly identified the gang as a hot target, and they flew to the United States. The two are thought to have died in a gunfight in Argentina.

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3. Derek “Bertie” Smalls

Another notorious thief on the list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time is Derek Bertie Smalls. If you’re familiar with the frequent armed robberies that occurred in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s, you’ll recognize the name Derek “Bertie” Smalls.

Smalls’ crowning achievement was the robbery of the Ilford Barclay’s Bank branch in 1970, which netted him a whopping £237,000 – a world record at the time. After fleeing the scene, the east Londoner travelled to Paris and then to the Costa Del Sol, where he read headlines about the manhunt for his capture.

3. Ma Barker

The fourth person on the list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time is Ma Barker. Her full name was Arizona Donnie Barker, was a well-known personality known as Kate Barker. Despite the fact that she was a lady, she was the leader of the infamous Barker Gang. Her tale was also included in films, songs, and literature from the past.

She was one of the most cunning thieves, according to J. Edgar Hoover, who did not carry out any robberies on her own but was the mastermind behind her team’s scheming.

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5. Carl Gugasian

He is a well-known historic thief, with a net worth of $2 million in stolen money and items. This burglar moved forward into a high-profile robbery enterprise that targets banks and other important financial organizations after many cars were stolen in a series.

He was nicknamed as the Friday Night Robber because he solely carried out robberies on Fridays. To conceal his true identity during the robberies, he wore a mask over his face. He was detained once during a robbery, but once released, he resumed his criminal activities.

6. John Dillinger

The fifth thief on the list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time is John Dillinger. He was a well-known American criminal who, with his associates, robbed roughly 24 banks and four police stations.

In the midst of the Great Depression, he ranked first among many well-known burglars such as Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, and Bonnie.

7. Frank Abagnale Jr

Frank Abagnale Jr is one of the most famous con men in the world, immortalized by Steven Spielberg and Leonardo Di Caprio in the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can.

He was a shrewd criminal, conman, imposter, and check forger who eventually became a security consultant in the United States. He pretended to be various things during his criminal career, including a doctor, airline pilot, lawyer, and even a jail adviser – all before the age of 21. He confessed to his crimes and helped the authorities improve their ability to detect fraudsters after being apprehended.

Through his security firm, Abagnale & Associates, he continues to cooperate closely with the FBI and other security organizations today.

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8. Baby Face Nelson

This gangster’s real name is Lester Joseph Gills, a well-known robber who earned the nickname “Baby Face Nelson” because of his youthful experience. The thief is said to have once assisted John Dillinger in escaping from prison.

9. Alber Spaggiari

Albert Spaggiari is the ninth thief on the list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time. He became famous after planning a break-in at the Société Générale bank in Nice, France. His first criminal deed was robbing a jewellery store in order to give his sweetheart a diamond ring.

He hand-picked a crew of expert thieves, including Gaby Anglade, to help him carry out his criminal intentions, and they snuck into the bank through the sewers to dig a tunnel beneath its vault.

Then, on July 16, 1976, during the Bastille Day celebrations, they broke into the vault and took 60 million francs. While emptying the safety deposit boxes, his team even enjoyed a picnic on the bank floors.

10. Anna Sorokin

And the last thief on the list of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time is the popular Anna Sorokin. She has a reputation as a scam artist and a fraudster. After landing in the United States in 2013, she pretended to be Anna Delvey, a wealthy German heiress. She stole $275k from banks, hotels, and even close friends.

She was found guilty of her offences in 2017 and sentenced to just over four years in jail. She was deported back to Germany in 2022, and, believe it or not, she is now selling artwork online, including sketches she created while incarcerated.

Meanwhile, Netflix released a series based on her narrative, Inventing Anna, in February 2022, which drew millions of viewers.

Summary

Here is a quick summary of the top 10 greatest thieves of all time.

1. Doris Payne

2. Butch Cassidy

3. Derek “Bertie” Smalls

4. Ma Barker

5. Carl Gugasian

6. John Dillinger

7. Frank Abagnale Jr

8. Baby Face Nelson

9. Albert Spaggiari

10. Anna Sorokin