ATM blaster in use
For about three years, criminals have been robbing more and more ATMs, especially in Switzerland. However, it is not just individual areas that are affected, but the whole of Switzerland. But the gangs are on the move all over Europe.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is currently conducting several criminal proceedings on around 30 cases of ATM burglaries in Switzerland. The perpetrators often operate across cantonal and national borders. Accordingly, the conduct of the proceedings is resource-intensive, as the legal investigations have to be carried out by way of international legal assistance. As a rule, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland becomes involved whenever explosives are used.
Increase in cases involving explosives
When it comes to the use of gas, crowbars or circular saws, the responsibility falls to the cantons. As the Office of the Attorney General writesFor the past two years, there has been an increase in the number of cases in which ATMs have been broken into using explosives.
However, strong international cooperation is needed in the manhunt for ATM burglars. In 2020, for example, a crime scene in Switzerland led to an arrest in Denmark, which in turn led to an arrest in Austria, Fedpol media spokesman Florian Näf told "SRF". International cooperation is therefore crucial.
Federal prosecutor filed indictment for the first time
In October, when an ATM was blown up in Sevelen, the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the first time switched on and brought an indictment on the grounds of the danger it posed. According to the indictment, the accused in December 2019 in the canton of St.Gallen broke open that vending machine using explosives and stole from it cash in the amount of 126 600 francs.
By detonating the explosive device of the money machine on the outer facade of a multi-storey residential and commercial building, the accused, according to the indictment, at least condoned both injuries to persons and damage to other people's property as a consequence of his conduct, and in doing so acted "knowingly and willfully with criminal intent."
Source: SRF/Federal Prosecutor's Office
