Thieves rob Swiss money van in ‘Fast and Furious’ style heist
A melted street lamp and charred road are the only visible evidence left of the heist
Keystone
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
Culture
Wealth is not all: how gentrification in Zurich has led to housing shortage
Swiss invention: 90-year anniversary of first T-bar ski lift
This content was published on
On Monday it will be 90 years since the world’s first T-bar ski lift went into service in Davos. This Swiss invention was an instant success.
Iran summons Swiss ambassador over US and Italy arrests
This content was published on
Iran has summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents US interests, to protest against the arrest in the US and Italy of two Iranians.
Swisscom receives greenlight for acquisition of Vodafone Italia
This content was published on
The takeover of Vodafone Italia by Swisscom is nearing completion. All relevant authorities have now approved the €8 billion (CHF7.45 billion) deal.
Novo Nordisk stock market plunge drags down Swiss device maker Ypsomed
This content was published on
The Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk, faced setbacks on Friday that weighed on the share price of Swiss injection device manufacturer Ypsomed.
Swiss press react to EU deal with mix of euphoria and scepticism
This content was published on
Swiss media reaction to the agreement between Switzerland and the EU varies widely. Some are celebrating, while others worry about what is to come.
Swiss Solidarity donations to tackle child abuse top CHF4 million
This content was published on
Swiss Solidarity, the humanitarian arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), has raised over CHF4 million ($4.3 million) to tackle child abuse.
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.