"The last thing I stole was a box of Coca Cola from a parked truck in Adelaide. I was nice and drunk. It was New Year's Eve. And that was about 28 years ago"

The quote by Ronald Biggs reflects a moment of self-reflection and possibly a tip of fond memories or humor about his previous actions. Ronald Biggs is famously known for his involvement in the Great Train Robbery of 1963, a massive theft that became legendary in the annals of criminal offense. This context makes the quote especially poignant, as it contrasts the enormous, high-stakes criminal activity of his youth with a fairly petty act of theft including a box of Coca-Cola.

By specifying that the "last thing" he took was a box of Coca-Cola from a parked truck in Adelaide, Biggs might be acknowledging a turning point or a minute of self-awareness. It suggests a transition from a life identified by considerable criminal ventures to one that acknowledges the futility or triviality of such acts in his later years. There's an implicit understanding that this was not a harmful act however rather a product of scenario--"nice and intoxicated" on New Year's Eve, a moment generally related to celebration and lack of inhibitions.

The reference of alcohol ("good and drunk") highlights a state of modified judgment, perhaps suggesting that this theft was not planned or really preferred, but rather a spontaneous act substantiated of the celebration of New Year's Eve. It provides a humanizing detail, showing that even people understood for serious criminal offenses have minutes of levity and humanity. The specificity of the time--"about 28 years back"-- adds to the sense of viewpoint, indicating that even prominent figures like Biggs review the past with the clarity of hindsight, acknowledging both the recklessness and the humor in their younger selves' actions.

Biggs' choice to share this anecdote might likewise be seen as a kind of redemption or personal reckoning. By juxtaposing the Coca-Cola theft with his previous notoriety, he might be acknowledging that time and experience have changed his outlook, demonstrating a degree of individual growth and reflection on the choices he made throughout his life.