 Croydon Aerodrome in the 1930s | |
| Date | 5 March 1935 |
|---|---|
| Outcome | £21,000 worth of gold stolen and never recovered |
| Accused |
|
| Verdict | Swanland convicted, Mazzarada and O'Brien acquitted |
The Croydon Aerodrome robbery was the theft of £21,000 worth of gold bullion, gold sovereigns and American Eagles from London's Croydon Aerodrome (then in Surrey) on 6 March 1935. As was customary at the aerodrome, only one security guard was on duty; he held the keys to the strong room, and met each incoming cargo flight. A gang of men had acquired a duplicate set of keys, and were able to enter the strong room in the almost empty aerodrome and leave with the gold.
Three men were charged with the theft. One was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison, while the other two were acquitted after a witness changed his testimony. Not all the gang members were identified, and the gold was never found.