Season 1

Masterminds tells real crime stories about amazing deceptions that brilliant criminals use to pull off seemingly impossible crimes. This new half-hour series combines the mystery of a "whodunit" with the thrill of a "howdunit," revealing the extraordinary world of elite bank robbers, escape artists, impersonators, kidnappers, murderers and frauds.

Episodes

Each episode has its own detail page.

Episode 12003-07-16

The Anthon Forgeries

The story of master forger Mark Hoffmann, who created numerous falsified documents relating to the founding of the Mormon church, and fooled experts all over the world

Episode 22003-07-16

The Dunbar Heist

Mark Hoffman fabricates more than 600 American historical documents.

Episode 32003-09-29

The Knightsbridge Heist

Britain's largest heist in history netted the culprit $90 million in jewels, cash and drugs.

Episode 42003-10-06

Man Called Hollywood

The criminal acts committed by Scott Scurlock, who robbed 19 Seattle banks between 1992 and 1996

Episode 52003-11-03

Double Crossed

A woman who managed to con over $185,000 out of the residents of Colorado Springs

Episode 62003-11-17

The Laguna Niguel Heist

Profile of America's most successful robber Amil Dinsio, who made history in 1972 when he raided the richest bank in the US

Episode 72003-11-24

A Smuggler Supreme

Profile of Brian O'Dea, who used his job as a fisherman to import marijuana into America during the 1980s, making himself $200million in the process

Episode 82003-12-08

Art Fraud

Two Americans discover the man who pulled off the biggest art fraud in U.K. history.

Episode 92003-12-15

The Hotel Pierre Heist

On New Years Eve 1972, Bobby Comfort and his gang pulled off the largest hotel safe heist in U.S. history. It happened at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. After rehearsing a number of scenarios and planning their getaway, Comfort and his gang swooped into the hotel at 4am on New Years Eve. After two and a half hours, they greeted the New Year with more than $10 million dollars in cash and jewels.

Episode 102003-12-22

The Perfect Score

Profile of robber William Smarto who hid inside an Illinois bank until closing time and walked away with over $1,000,000 in loot

Episode 112004-01-19

Harn

Fraternity brothers use computer trickery to scam the horse-racing world.

Episode 122004-02-14

A Day at the Races

The criminals who won over $3million by forging winning horse racing tickets on the Breeders' Cup before being caught

Episode 132004-02-20

The Stopwatch Heist

How the FBI tracked down notorious robber Paddy Mitchell and his gang of thieves who were capable of carrying out heists within 90 seconds

Episode 142004-03-06

King of Car Thieves

Investigating the capture of Bill Dhaliwal and his gang of elite car thieves who were responsible for stealing high quality cars and selling them to unsuspecting buyers

Episode 152004-03-26

The Riviera Job

Albert Spaggiari's robbery of the Societe Generale bank in Nice in 1976, in which he stole gold, cash and gems worth millions

Episode 162004-04-23

The Dinner Set Gang

They were the craftiest cat burglars of the 20th Century. For years, Peter Salerno and his partner Dominick Latella plagued the wealthy along the East Coast. In the summer, they struck homes in the ritzy suburbs of New York and Connecticut. When winter came, they trailed their prey to Palm Beach, . There, waterfront properties gave them a great advantage in avoiding police patrolling the roads by approaching their target homes by boat. Over the years they made millions pilfering from the elite of society. The heirs to multimillion dollar businesses such as DuPont, Macy's, Gimbles, the Vat 69 whiskey distillery and others were easy targets for the duo. Salerno and Latella were at the top of their game, and one of the keys to their success was a technique that other thieves would consider suicide. They broke in and carried out their robberies at a time when they knew security alarms would be inactive - while the families were at home having dinner.

Episode 172004-04-16

Safe Landing

An insight into the sophisticated gang of thieves, including a jeweller and a former detective, who stole more than $6million in cash and gems over a 10 year period

Episode 182004-04-25