Debt of Lies & Painted in Blood – Midsomer’s Bank Heists

Important notice: No relevant spoilers for 23×02 (“Dept of Lies”). The article only contains open view spoilers for 06×03 Painted In Blood! All spoilers for 23×02, Debt of Lies are hidden and will only become visible when you deliberately click on the button!
If you haven’t seen Debt of Lies yet, you can read this article without relevant spoilers for the murder investigation. All the information given here relates to the year, the amount of stolen money and the location of the bank and of the hideout.

Two episodes of Midsomer Murders focus on fictional robberies in Midsomer County. Rugged Edge in “Painted in Blood” (06×03) and the Goldman Forbes heist in “Debt of Lies” (23×02). Both took place in the 1990s, in 1993 and 1998 respectively.

Rugged Edge Heist

Let’s start with the episode you probably already know: Joyce Barnaby attends a painting class in Midsomer Florey and, at the start of her lunch break, discovers the supposed Ruth Fairfax in the bushes. A case for her husband and Sergeant Troy? No, because the NIS arrive quickly and take the case off Barnaby’s hands so he can get back to work on Operation Pond Life. But the ambitious Troy happily accepts the NIS’s offer to take the case, believing it to be a career move… but he soon realises he’s just a better errand boy and uses his position to help Tom Barnaby, who of course continues to secretly investigate the case.

One of the more hilarious episodes of Midsomer Murders with Godfrey Teal who just can’t get over Linda Tyrell’s legs – and Linda herself who would love to get her stolen handbag back with a note like this for something in a safe…

£20 million at Heathrow

In 1998, Heathrow Airport was the scene of one of the most daring and lucrative heists in British history. A gang of skilled criminals, led by mastermind Keith Tyrell, made off with a staggering £20 million in cash. Known for his meticulous planning, Tyrell ensured that every detail was covered, from the escape routes to the handling of the stolen money.

Tyrell’s share of the loot, a hefty £5 million, was cleverly hidden in an old clothes press. This Victorian piece of furniture, made by the renowned Wilkinson and Sons, was stored in the vault of the local bank in Midsomer Florey. While the clothes press itself was a valuable antique, worth around £500, it served as the perfect hiding place for Tyrell’s fortune.

Despite his cunning, Tyrell couldn’t evade the law forever. He was eventually arrested and served a ten-year prison sentence. Interestingly, his wife Linda Tyrell was not in Midsomer Florey, adding an air of mystery to her whereabouts and role in the robbery.

Tony Carter – From Criminal to State Witness

Tony Carter, formerly known as Tony Mayhew, was another key figure in the Rugged Edge robbery. After his arrest, Carter struck a deal with the authorities. In exchange for testifying against his accomplices, he was put on the witness protection scheme, given a new identity and moved to Midsomer Florey with his wife.

Life in Midsomer Florey seemed peaceful for Carter, but his past was never far behind. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) learned of Carter’s new identity and decided to keep a close eye on him. DCI Mark Gudgeon and DC Angela Browning went undercover, posing as Alan Pinkney and Ruth Fairfax, and joined the Causton Watercolour Society to keep tabs on Carter.

But Gudgeon had his own plans. He saw an opportunity to keep the stolen money for himself and possibly share it with his team. Browning, who had no intention of becoming part of Gudgeon’s corrupt scheme, had to be silenced. Tragically, she met her end unbeknownst to her colleagues DS James Noland and DC Simon Backley, who were unaware of Gudgeon’s true intentions.

The Goldman-Forbes Heist in Debt of Lies

Five years before the Rugged Edge robbery, the Goldman-Forbes Bank in Causton was the target of another elaborate robbery. In August 1993, a gang made off with almost £5 million. The stolen money was hidden in a disused farm near Badger’s Drift, a location so inconspicuous that it escaped immediate detection.

Caution! Hidden Spoilers for “Dept of Lies”