Armed gang hold up money transport vehicle in Mariehamn

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A group of several masked men armed with automatic weapons made off with several millions in Swedish crowns - hundreds of thousands of euros - after robbing an Ålandsbanken armoured vehicle that was being loaded with cash in Mariehamn, the capital of the Åland Islands, on Thursday afternoon. The robbery was well organised and the perpetrators are still at large. No one was injured in the incident.
      Managing Director Peter Grönlund of Ålandsbanken - the Bank of Åland - reported that the bank has no regular money transport schedule, nor should any outsider know about the transfers in advance. The stolen banknotes were on their way to Sweden.
     
The robbery took place in the garage of the bank, when the money bags were being loaded into a security company's armoured vehicle by two bank officials and the driver of the car. Two hooded men broke a window and forced their way into the garage.
      Armed with automatic weapons, the men grabbed three bags and escaped through the broken window. They jumped in a car that was waiting outside and sped off.
      The police believe that a total of three to four men were involved in the robbery.
     
During the incident, one of the perpetrators set a blue Mitsubishi Lancer on fire in front of the City Library, opposite the local police station in downtown Mariehamn. The car was reported stolen in Stockholm a couple of weeks ago.
     
Reportedly, all the robbers sped away in a silver Audi A6, which was later found ablaze in the Färjsund harbour in Godby, north of Mariehamn. According to Inspector Olof Lindqvist, the robbers switched vehicles at that point. They continued their flight towards Vårdö either in a black Volvo V70 or using an aluminium Buster speedboat. It is also possible that the offenders have gone their separate ways.
      The Swedish owner of the stolen Audi had reported the car stolen at the end of July.
     
The Mariehamn police were summoned to search for the robbers on Thursday afternoon. Also the Finnish Coast Guard together with the Finnish Customs participated in the searches.
      Some help was received even from Sweden. Two vessels belonging to the Swedish Coast Guard were combing the sea to spot the boat that the gang might have used.
      On the other hand, the Swedish police have their hands full at home, as a simultaneous heist occurred in Södertälje, near Stockholm, where armed robbers made off with a money bag at a supermarket. Their vehicle was later found abandoned and ablaze outside the city. These perpetrators are also still at large.
     
The Finnish companies providing cash services have been alert to armed and violent robberies ever since they became a frequent occurrence in Sweden at the turn of the millennium.
      For example, Managing Director Harri Veijola from security services company Securitas reports that they have prepared for potential robberies by training their guards and by intensifying their cooperation with the police.
      Managing Director Timo Sankari from G4S Cash Services - the former Falck Cash Services - notes that the incident in Mariehamn apparently could not have happened if the target had been a professional valuables transport firm, as they have better protection methods than exist in banks.


Links:
  Ålandsbanken - the Bank of Åland

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