Bryan Sobolewski was a jewel thief and committed a string of armed robberies and diamond heists around New England in the early '90s.

Sobolewski speaks with Insider about the reconnaissance and casing aspects of gem theft and how he would approach stores. He recounts how his family broke into safes, smashed cabinets, and stole from traveling salesmen. He talks about scams within the diamond industry and how he believes jewelry stores are complicit in diamond heists. He covers the scarcity and value of diamonds and uncut gems, and he describes how thieves value sets and engravings.

Since leaving prison, Sobolewski gained a bachelor's degree in psychology. He has spoken in schools and substance-abuse-counseling groups. He now is a personal trainer and lives in Texas. He is the author of "Family Jewels," and in 2021, he started "Family Jewels Podcast," which details his life story.

Find out more:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

00:00 - Introduction
00:31 - Chapter 1 | Picking a Target
01:48 - Chapter 2 | The Recon
03:07 - Chapter 3 | The Heist
06:02 - Chapter 4 | The Security
07:55 - Chapter 5 | The Take
10:38 - Chapter 6 | Industry Scams
12:45 - Chapter 7 | The Cops
13:43 - Chapter 8 | The Backstory
15:59 - Chapter 9 | Getting Arrested
17:43 - Chapter 10 | The Aftermath

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How Diamond Heists Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insider