Created by Ronnie Sandahl, Swedish from Netflix crime series ‘The Helicopter Heist’ delves into the exciting robbery from a well-guarded cash depot on the outskirts of Stockholm. The show delves into the events leading up to the heist and its aftermath, exploring the story from the perspective of those involved in the complicated level. The exciting premise becomes even more complicated as the details of the case emerge through the eyes of the characters and how they went about planning the mission without alerting the authorities. While the show is primarily intended as a suspense story, the show also embraces stylistic freedom as it delves into a story packed with emotion and intrigue of the highest caliber.
The real-life inspiration of the helicopter heist
‘The Helicopter Heist’, originally titled ‘Helikopterrånet’, is a semi-fictional portrayal of the Västberga helicopter heist, which was turned into a novel of the same name by Jonas Bonnier. Written by Ronnie Sandahl, the show delves into the events of the actual robbery case, which caused confusion authorities and became an infamous event in Swedish history. According to reports, the heist took place on September 23, 2009, when a group of robbers landed on the roof of a G4S money service depot in Västberga in Stockholm, Sweden using a Bell 206 helicopter. They stole millions of Kronors and made off with the money, while the authorities were forced to sit back as the robbers employed tactics such as decoy bombs to discourage any pursuit via police helicopters.
CCTV footage of a helicopter robbery in Västberga//Image Credit: Tactical Tales/YouTube
The case became a media sensation due to its meticulous nature, showing how the thieves planned for various eventualities. Roads were spiked to prevent police cars from chasing them, while during the robbery they forced law enforcement officers back under the threat of submachine guns at their disposal. Therefore, it was a foolproof plan from a number of angles. Additionally, it also raised eyebrows for the gang’s daring attempt to use a helicopter as a means of transportation, making it the first heist in Sweden to employ such a tactic. The Police the stolen helicopter was eventually found a few kilometers away from Stockholm.
Although they had been in the background from the beginning, authorities managed to piece together the events of the crime and arrest ten people in connection with the robbery. However, it was suggested that this was only half of the people involved in the crime. Seven of the ten arrested were sentenced to prison in October 2010, while the other three were acquitted of all charges. The robbery was allegedly masterminded by Goran Bojovic, a man suspected of having links to the Serbian paramilitary unit, BIA Red Berets. A month prior to the heist, Serbian authorities had reportedly sent a message to the Swedish embassy warning that a group of criminals was planning a heist in Stockholm. The information was reportedly not handled with care.
The Helicopter Heist bases its spectacular crime on its character-driven moments
As creator Ronnie Sandahl filmed the true story behind the Västberga robbery, he wanted to expose the layers behind the people involved in the incident and the emotions of the high-stakes story. To that end, the show uses a feverish pace as it delves into one extraordinary event after another, layering the grand heist into the intimate details surrounding each character. In an interview with Netflix, Sandahl stated: “I want to tell an epic heist story, about big dreams and even bigger risks. A feverish, character-driven heist show about friendship, adrenaline and hubris.” The sharp narrative unravels the larger-than-life aspects of the show from a more focused perspective, making every twist feel personal and emotionally compelling.
Time and again, ‘The Helicopter Heist’ remains consistent with its message of a subjective retelling, even deviating slightly from the central storyline. Naturally, it offers a deeper insight into camaraderie, family, brotherhood and orphans a father, adopt an honesty in storytelling that is refreshing, even though large parts of the story are based on a real crime. These personal moments help shape the story and provide more context to all the heightened aspects of the series, which mainly revolve around the heist. As the story progresses, a real sense of urgency and tension takes over, taking over every moment to catch your breath. Ultimately, these purely cinematic techniques and motifs make it feel more authentic and give a taste of what it felt like to be at the center of the Västberga heist.
Read more: Best heist movies on Netflix
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