Air France Robbery (1967) - Planning

Planning

Air France was the carrier for American currency that had been exchanged in Southeast Asia. The airline had contracted to return the money to the US for depositing with American banks. The money was usually carried in linen bags, each containing US$60,000, and Air France shipped up to $1 million per week in this manner. The money was stored in a cement-block "strong room" with a round-the-clock private security guard.

According to Robert McMahon, who worked for Air France's cargo operation, Air France aircraft regularly delivered three or four $60,000 packages at a time, and he told Henry Hill that three or four men with pistols could easily steal it. However, it was difficult to predict when the money would be there, so a stickup was risky. Hill decided it would be better to steal the key so they could attempt to steal the money at a moment's notice without tipping off Air France that they knew about the money. Reconnaissance missions revealed that the most difficult obstacle would be the security guard, who kept the key with him at all times, even on days off.

A break-in to the guard's home turned up a potential vulnerability: women. McMahon introduced the guard to an expensive escort at The Jade East Motel located near JFK International Airport. In time, the guard and the escort became intimate. After a number of dry runs, McMahon and the escort were able to distract the guard for long enough for Hill to retrieve the key from his pants and make a copy.