Alan William Golder (born August 9, 1955), also known as the "Dinnertime Bandit",[1] is an American burglar who specialized in stealing jewellery from mansions, while their owners were inside their residences eating dinner.[2]
Golder grew up in Lynbrook, New York, where his criminal career began at an early age, first stealing bicycles, then robbing stores.[2] In 1978, an accomplice of Golder's killed Lawrence Lever during a robbery; Golder was subsequently arrested and served 15 years in prison,[1] [2] after cooperating with police and naming other criminals,[1] [3] including members of the Genovese crime family.[4] During his time in prison, he sold an alleged autobiographical story to Paramount Pictures for $25,000, claiming to have robbed numerous celebrities; however his attorney claims he fabricated much of it.[1] [2] Released in 1996, Golder resumed burglary almost immediately.[2] In 1998 he fled to Europe after being named in a warrant,[1] [2] where he is suspected to have continued committing burglaries.[3]
Arrested in Antwerp, Belgium on December 14, 2006,[5] Golder was extradited to the US in 2007 and was charged with 40 counts of burglary.[1] Golder was convicted in Connecticut in August 2008, on 2 counts of burglary, a kidnapping charge and a larceny charge; the kidnapping charge was due to Golder having tied up a woman during a burglary.[6] He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years in prison.[7]