Neil McCauley is a professional thief based in Los Angeles. He and his crew – right-hand man Chris Shiherlis, enforcers Michael Cheritto and Trejo, and newly hired hand Waingro – rob $1.6 million in bearer bonds from an armored car. During the heist, Waingro impulsively kills a guard. A second guard is shot and killed when he attempts to pull out his concealed weapon. In response, McCauley orders the last guard to be eliminated so as to not leave any witnesses. McCauley is incensed with Waingro for the needless escalation, and the crew prepares to kill him, but the execution is interrupted by a passing police cruiser, and Waingro escapes. The robbery is investigated by LAPD Major Crimes Unit Lieutenant Vincent Hanna and his team. Hanna, a dedicated lawman, has a strained relationship with his wife Justine and struggles to connect with his mentally unstable stepdaughter, Lauren. McCauley, who is wary of having things in life that "you cannot leave behind in thirty seconds", begins a relationship with Eady, a graphic design artist.