Ronnie Biggs, carpenter, petty crook and national train thief died Wednesday at the age of 84.  Biggs became one of Britian’s Most Wanted for his part in the Great Train Robbery in 1963. He was apart of the 12 member gang that ambushed the Royal Mail night train and made off with 2.6 million pounds, or $4.2 million. It wasn’t until the following year that police caught up to Biggs and put him in jail. However, he didn’t stay locked up for long. He became famous after his escape from the London Wandsworth Prison in 1965, where he was serving a 30 year sentence. To escape, Biggs scaled a wall with a rope ladder  and dropped onto a waiting removal van. Biggs used his share of the stolen money to disguise himself using plastic surgery and lived for the next 36 years as a fugitive. While in exile, Biggs pulled numerous publicity stunts that only taunted police officials and he appeared in “No One Is Innocent” with British punk band “Six Pistols.”

The rebellious Biggs became a legend.  The Great Train Robbery became one of the most celebrated holidays in Britain, it is something they continue to celebrate to this day.

In 2001, Biggs returned to the United Kingdom and spent several years in prison. His health rapidly declined. In August 2009, Biggs was released from prison on account of his illness and died in a nursing home earlier this month.