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What is there to be skeptic about? Do you mean that you think the author is glorifying Blanchard's escapades (which are pretty impressive by most standards) or

What is there to be skeptic about? Do you mean that you think the author is glorifying Blanchard's escapades (which are pretty impressive by most standards) or that some aspect of the story isn't true? I share a hometown with the guy - his story fascinates me.

hugh3 16y ago
Much like a Ben Mezerich book, many aspects of it do sound a little too perfectly movie-like to be true. The hot female accomplice. The mysterious phone calls to bring him to Cairo. The dogged policemen pursuing him relentlessly despite skepticism from their superiors. And ahem the heist which involves skydiving onto the roof of a castle in order to move slowly past the motion detectors to steal a diamond.
Luc 16y ago
The most fantastical aspects of the story seem to be coming from (the imagination of) the interviewed thief/con man, without further corroboration. The author seems quite pleased to have a movie scenario thrown in his lap, and doesn't place any question marks. Most other articles on the net relating to this person seem to take this article as their source. It's been a long time since I read this story, but there is a lot in there which has the feeling of being a tall tale. Like parachuting onto a roof in the dead of night, when he may just as well have bought a ticket and hidden behind a curtain somewhere in those 1000 rooms.
- brianmckenzie 16y ago
  Yeah, I was also quite skeptical of that part - he was somehow able to track down a parachute, a perfect replica of the jewels, and an outlaw pilot all in the space of 24 hours? All this when he was on vacation in a foreign country with his girlfriend and her family?
  - kondro 16y ago
    Parachutes are pretty easy to come by if you know any skydivers. The replica didn't need to be perfect, just look similar. They don't take jewels out of their box every day to take a close look at hem unless they need to. He got that from the gift store. You could find a pilot willing to drop you at night at the same place you find a parachute. Skydivers & and their friends are weird thrillseekers. They would do a night drop for someone because they thought it was cool. Blanchart didn't have to tell them the truth as to why he wanted dropping. As for the vacation... that seemed to come first, and the robbery on a whim. He didn't go there planning to steal the star.
- fooandbarify 16y ago
  Alright, I see what you mean. Some strong exaggerations with unsupported claims. The author could have done more to distance himself from Blanchard's unsubstantiated claims, but he does not lie about them - merely presents a story from the criminal's point of view. And even if you subtract the skydiving and the hot mysterious accomplice it is still an extremely interesting story.

hugh3 16y ago

Much like a Ben Mezerich book, many aspects of it do sound a little too perfectly movie-like to be true. The hot female accomplice. The mysterious phone calls to bring him to Cairo. The dogged policemen pursuing him relentlessly despite skepticism from their superiors. And ahem the heist which involves skydiving onto the roof of a castle in order to move slowly past the motion detectors to steal a diamond.

Luc 16y ago

The most fantastical aspects of the story seem to be coming from (the imagination of) the interviewed thief/con man, without further corroboration. The author seems quite pleased to have a movie scenario thrown in his lap, and doesn't place any question marks. Most other articles on the net relating to this person seem to take this article as their source. It's been a long time since I read this story, but there is a lot in there which has the feeling of being a tall tale. Like parachuting onto a roof in the dead of night, when he may just as well have bought a ticket and hidden behind a curtain somewhere in those 1000 rooms.

brianmckenzie 16y ago
Yeah, I was also quite skeptical of that part - he was somehow able to track down a parachute, a perfect replica of the jewels, and an outlaw pilot all in the space of 24 hours? All this when he was on vacation in a foreign country with his girlfriend and her family?
- kondro 16y ago
  Parachutes are pretty easy to come by if you know any skydivers. The replica didn't need to be perfect, just look similar. They don't take jewels out of their box every day to take a close look at hem unless they need to. He got that from the gift store. You could find a pilot willing to drop you at night at the same place you find a parachute. Skydivers & and their friends are weird thrillseekers. They would do a night drop for someone because they thought it was cool. Blanchart didn't have to tell them the truth as to why he wanted dropping. As for the vacation... that seemed to come first, and the robbery on a whim. He didn't go there planning to steal the star.
fooandbarify 16y ago
Alright, I see what you mean. Some strong exaggerations with unsupported claims. The author could have done more to distance himself from Blanchard's unsubstantiated claims, but he does not lie about them - merely presents a story from the criminal's point of view. And even if you subtract the skydiving and the hot mysterious accomplice it is still an extremely interesting story.