Thieves rob Swiss money van in ‘Fast and Furious’ style heist
A money delivery van was immobilised by a Kalashnikov-wielding gang using two delivery vehicles near the Swiss town of Mont-sur-Lausanne close to Lake Geneva. They made away with some of the money and are at large.
The cash delivery van operated by a private company was attacked on Thursday morning a little after midnight. It was hit by two delivery vehicles stolen by the thieves and the two occupants were threatened with a Kalashnikov. After taking the money, the robbers then set fire to the van, the two stolen delivery vehicles and another car in the vicinity. They then fled in several cars despite measures by the police to intercept them.
“They were determined and prepared”, said Florence Maillard, spokesperson for the police of canton Vaud. She added that the French police were alerted immediately, as is the norm in such incidents.
The two employees in the money van were not injured but very shocked. Witnesses who were threatened also received psychological support, according to police.
This is not the first time money delivery vehicles have been targeted in the region. In May 2017, a van carrying more than CHF40 million ($41.6 million) in cash and gemstones was robbed on the highway near the town of Nyon. The thieves, who were from the French city of Lyon, fled to France where they were later arrested. In December 2015, two money couriers were attacked in the town of Bussigny close to Thursday’s robbery. The loot amounted to more than CHF2 million.
Popular Stories
More
Banking & Fintech
Luxury heir claims his CHF11 billion Hermès fortune has vanished
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Swiss investigate four people linked to Russian oligarch
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is investigating four individuals linked to Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov.
Swiss government scrambles to deal with egg shortage
This content was published on
From September 1, more eggs intended for consumption may be imported into Switzerland. In allowing this, the government wants to secure the supply of eggs for consumers.
This content was published on
Agricultural research sees new development opportunities for Swiss sparkling wines in the face of declining wine consumption. In a survey, half of consumers expressed a willingness to pay more for local products than for foreign ones.
Locarno spotlights filmmakers from South America and Caribbean
This content was published on
The Open Doors section of the Locarno Film Festival has named the winners for 2024. The spotlight is on the South American and Caribbean regions.
Storm paralyses trains to popular Swiss tourist resort
This content was published on
The railway line between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald in central Switzerland is expected to remain closed until Friday following heavy rains.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The Great Swiss Post Heist of 1997
This content was published on
The “post heist of the century” is one of the most spectacular cases in Swiss crime history and the stuff of movie scripts.
Switzerland’s most infamous bank robber to be released from prison
This content was published on
Almost 19 years after his last arrest, a Zurich cantonal court has accepted Portmann’s application for parole. His latest “job” was a bank robbery in Horn in canton Thurgau with two accomplices, after escaping from a prison in canton Graubünden. He was handed a nine-year prison sentence for this heist. The 59-year-old has not served…
This content was published on
The criminal court in Renens sentenced a 45 year-old Serbian woman today to ten years imprisonment for her involvement in four jewellery heists between 2009 and 2011.
This content was published on
A Frenchman working for a Swiss money transport firm has handed over tens of millions of francs to kidnappers in a car park in canton Vaud.
This content was published on
The gang used two black cars in their daring raid late Monday, grabbed the cache of 120 parcels containing the stones and sped off into the darkness, said Anja Bijnens, spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office. “They tried to pass themselves off as police officers,” Bijnens added. They reportedly wore outfits which resembled dark police…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.