And now, a plot that is worthy of a Hollywood movie: Hours before a daring heist at the University of British Columbia, surveillance cameras mysteriously went off-line ... then came a phone call:
Around the same time, a caller claiming to be from the alarm company phoned campus security, telling them there was a problem with the system and to ignore any alarms that might go off.
Campus security fell for the ruse and ignored an automated computer alert sent to them, police sources told CBC News.
Meanwhile surveillance cameras that were still operating captured poor pictures of what was going on inside the museum because of a policy to turn the lights off at night.
Then, as the lone guard working overnight in the museum that night left for a smoke break, the thief or thieves broke in, wearing gas masks and spraying bear spray to slow down anyone who might stumble across them.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/06/04/bc-ubc-security-ruse.html (Photo: gold box by Bill Reid with a sculpted eagle on top, stolen from the museum)
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/440252
When I got back inside I told the crew, "That's the way to rob a building... just be sure to wear a shirt and tie and look like you work there!"