Brenden Abbott
In a bold escape from Brisbane's Sir David Longland Correctional Centre, five inmates orchestrated a breakout
| Brenden James Abbott | ||
 | ||
| Brenden James Abbott | ||
| Born | Brenden James Abbott Born May 8, 1962 (age 63) | |
| alias | The Postcard Bandit | |
| conviction | Bank robbery, Prison escape | |
| conviction penalty | 25 years' imprisonment (13-year non-parole period) | |
| conviction status | Remanded in custody | |
| Occupation(s) | Bank robber | |
that showcased both ingenuity and audacity. Using diamond-edged wire, they sawed through their cell bars to access the prison grounds. The group then stacked chairs into a pyramid shape, allowing them to climb over the initial razor ribbon barrier. They dashed roughly 100 meters across the yard, only to be stopped by the first of three heavily reinforced wire fences, designed to prevent such escapes.
Security footage later revealed the inmates' surprising lack of hesitation or fear during the attempt. Their confidence came from outside help—accomplices who tossed bolt-cutters and a firearm over the barriers to assist them. When a guard tried to intervene, shots were fired over his head, forcing him to back off. The prison's high-tech surveillance vehicle was then disabled by gunfire, leaving the remaining guards powerless to stop the escapees. The inmates cut through the final fences and fled the scene in two waiting cars.
Biography
Brendan James Abbott, born on May 8, 1962, in Melbourne, Australia, earned a notorious reputation as one of the country’s most elusive criminals. Known as "The Postcard Bandit" for his habit of taunting authorities with postcards while on the run, Abbott was linked to 14 bank robberies and multiple prison escapes by 1995. His intelligence and careful planning made him a formidable figure in Australia’s criminal underworld.
Abbott’s early life was marked by hardship. Growing up in foster care, he turned to crime as a young adult. By the late 1980s, he had honed his skills as a bank robber, targeting financial institutions across the country. One of his most infamous escapes occurred in 1989, when he broke out of a Queensland prison and evaded capture for months while continuing his crime spree.
A Trail of Robberies and Escapes
Abbott’s criminal career stretched over two decades, filled with high-stakes heists and daring escapes. He was known for his meticulous preparation, often using disguises and studying his targets in detail. In 1995, he pulled off a $1.2 million bank robbery in Perth, cementing his status as a master thief. After years on the run, he was recaptured in 1997 and sent to a high-security prison in Queensland—where he would later orchestrate the Sir David Longland escape.
Following his 1997 breakout, Abbott remained at large for several months before authorities caught up with him in the Northern Territory. During this time, he continued his criminal activities, including a robbery in Darwin. His ability to repeatedly evade capture kept law enforcement on edge, making him a national target.[1]
