News / International
Bank robbers get away with £10million in German
19 Jan 2013 at 14:52hrs | Views
German police have released pictures of a 100ft tunnel dug by thieves who stole £10million of cash and valuables from a bank's vault.
The robbers spent weeks digging the 3ft wide tunnel to break into Berliner Volksbank in the German capital and even built ceiling supports.
Exterior view of a branch of the 'Berliner Volksbank' in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. The bank was robbed during the past weekend using a 30-meter (100-foot) tunnel from a close by parking lot to the bank. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The raiders escaped with valuables from several hundred safety deposit lockers and set fire to the tunnel to destroy any evidence.
Police have also published a sketch of a man they believe was involved in the bank heist.
Police cars stand at the entrance of an underground parking lot in Berlin Monday Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/dapd/ Tobias Koch)
Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf called the raid "very professional" and said it must have taken weeks or even months to complete. The robbers struck some time after the bank shut on Friday and used silenced drills to breach the vault.
Police were alerted to the break-in on Monday morning when a security guard noticed smoke coming from the deposit room.
Mr Neuendorf said police are still trying to find out what valuables were stolen from the deposit boxes.
The robbers spent weeks digging the 3ft wide tunnel to break into Berliner Volksbank in the German capital and even built ceiling supports.
Exterior view of a branch of the 'Berliner Volksbank' in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. The bank was robbed during the past weekend using a 30-meter (100-foot) tunnel from a close by parking lot to the bank. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The raiders escaped with valuables from several hundred safety deposit lockers and set fire to the tunnel to destroy any evidence.
Police have also published a sketch of a man they believe was involved in the bank heist.
Police cars stand at the entrance of an underground parking lot in Berlin Monday Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/dapd/ Tobias Koch)
Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf called the raid "very professional" and said it must have taken weeks or even months to complete. The robbers struck some time after the bank shut on Friday and used silenced drills to breach the vault.
Police were alerted to the break-in on Monday morning when a security guard noticed smoke coming from the deposit room.
Mr Neuendorf said police are still trying to find out what valuables were stolen from the deposit boxes.
Source - AP
