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.

1. 1. The Anthon Forgeries

   2003-07-16

   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

2. 2. The Dunbar Heist

   2003-07-16

   Mark Hoffman fabricates more than 600 American historical documents.

3. 3. The Knightsbridge Heist

   2003-09-29

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

4. 4. Man Called Hollywood

   2003-10-06

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

5. 5. Double Crossed

   2003-11-03

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

6. 6. The Laguna Niguel Heist

   2003-11-17

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

7. 7. A Smuggler Supreme

   2003-11-24

   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

8. 8. Art Fraud

   2003-12-08

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

9. 9. The Hotel Pierre Heist

   2003-12-15

   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.

10. 10. The Perfect Score

    2003-12-22

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

11. 11. Harn

    2004-01-19

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

12. 12. A Day at the Races

    2004-02-14

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

13. 13. The Stopwatch Heist

    2004-02-20

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

14. 14. King of Car Thieves

    2004-03-06

    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

15. 15. The Riviera Job

    2004-03-26

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

16. 16. The Dinner Set Gang

    2004-04-23

    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.

17. 17. Safe Landing

    2004-04-16

    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

18. 18. The Forger's Art

    2004-04-25

    A profile of John Drewe, who was caught in 1997 for dealing in forged paintings that had fooled art experts across the world and earned him millions

19. 19. Fools Gold

    2004-05-05

    A recreation of the Bre-X goldmine scam in Indonesia that swindled thousands of investors out of their life savings.

20. 20. The Bandit Queen

    2004-05-19

    How Judy Amar baffled Florida police with a string of robberies in mansions that had strict security measures

21. 21. A Gem of a Heist

    2004-05-22