Such was the infamy of the robbery at Lloyds Bank in Baker Street, central London on September 11, 1971 – dubbed The Baker Street Robbery – that it inspired the 2008 Hollywood flick The Bank Job.

At 74, Ron Ratcliffe, who was a surveillance officer involved in the investigation, recalls the chaos sparked by the robbery.

After serving in the military, he joined the Metropolitan Police in London. He climbed the ranks to make his way into the criminal investigations department.

Following the robbery, which sent shockwaves through the financial industry, Ratcliffe recalls being pulled from his other cases to join the team looking into the robbery.

“I was a fully qualified detective sergeant awaiting my promotion to detective inspector. The atmosphere, if you imagine, a major bank’s premises being robbed in this manner, was intense. In those days, I don’t think many thought about under-floor protection,” he explains.

With a memory as razor-sharp as a 20-year-old, Ratcliffe proceeds to give me a geographic outline of the bank locality, placing strong emphasis on the fact that it was on one of the main arterial roads, which contextualised the audacity of the heist.

“I am on record as saying I’m no admirer of criminal endeavours. But I have to say it was an extremely audacious endeavour. It was the first of its kind,” he says.

Although the police were tipped off by Robert Rowlands, a radio ham operator who overheard the robbers’ conversation, their search of some 750 banks within the radius proved futile.

“Robert was an unlicensed radio ham. In those days, radio hams were a well-organised group – I believe they still are. He was slightly breaking the law but in his enthusiasm picks up on the transition – or one of them, in my opinion. I believe there were other frequencies they operated on. After being asked to make a recording by his local police station, he then rang Scotland Yard.

“They sent two officers who immediately swung into action. They checked any bank within a 10-mile radius. In London, that amounted to 750 banks. Among those banks were the very bank that was being robbed,” he says.

Ratcliffe continues: “The lookout alerted the robbers who quietened down (they were drilling through the walls underground using a thermic lance). The police got in touch with the bank manager who checked all was secure with the 15-inch steel security door.”

As the door was on a timer, the heist was discovered only on the Monday morning.

“I’m sure the manager must have felt very, very sick,” he says.

Aside from the crime sending a shiver through the banking industry worldwide, it had a huge impact on the stock exchange.

Pressure mounted to find the criminals following reports of some sensitive material linked to the royal family finding its way into their loot.

“I put together the outside investigators and surveillance team. It came down to potential, whether factual or not, reported blackmail material. If that existed or didn’t, I think the foremost thing on their minds – knowing criminals – was the cash, which they could easily get rid of without bringing attention to themselves,” adds Ratcliffe.

Given the mounting pressure that followed, he was involved in the arrest of three of the robbers.

“They pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 12 years each. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get enough evidence.

“I think they had information they induced someone to give. I’m convinced it took over two years to plan this job,” he maintains.

lThe Baker Street Robbery, which is part of the Britain’s Biggest Heists series, airs tomorrow on the Crime and Investigation Network (DStv channel 255) at 9pm.

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