7°c Partly cloudy
19°c Variable cloudiness
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
German police: Robbers' 100-foot tunnel into Berlin bank was 'very professional'
Customers and a cameraman stand in front of a bank in Berlin Monday. German police say a 30-metre tunnel dug by robbers who raided the Berliner Volksbank was "very professional" and must have taken weeks or even months to complete. (TOBIAS KOCH / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
BERLIN - German police say robbers dug a 30-metre tunnel into the safe deposit room of a bank in Berlin and escaped with their haul, setting a fire as they left to cover their tracks.
Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf says the tunnel led from an underground garage into the bank's safe deposit room.
Neuendorf told The Associated Press Monday that the tunnel was "very professional" and must have taken weeks or even months to complete. It was elaborately constructed and even had ceiling supports.
Police were alerted to the break-in early Monday when a security guard noticed smoke coming from the deposit room.
Neuendorf says police are still trying to determine what valuables were stolen from the deposit boxes.
Details of the heist called to mind the spectacular robbery of another Berlin bank in 1995. During that robbery thieves entered the bank through the door, took hostages and demanded a helicopter and ransom.
Police besieged and eventually stormed the safe room where the thieves had holed up only to find they had escaped through a tunnel dug by accomplices. Several of the thieves were later caught.
More FP News Top Story
- Back to Top
- Return to FP News Top Story
More FP News Top Story
(1 of 43 articles for this week)
Duffy expense controversy sent back to closed-door Senate committee
05/21/2013 10:02 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular FP News Top Story
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Military ombudsman appeals to defence chief over home-equity losses
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Newest adaptation of classic 'Star Wars' film will feature characters speaking Navajo language
- Bangladesh rescuers say voices of survivors getting weaker as death toll nearly 350
- Prince Philip presented with Order of Canada during royal visit to Toronto
- 'It happens everywhere,' Bangladesh finance minister says of collapse as death toll tops 500
- Obama nominates friends Pritzker for commerce secretary and Froman for trade representative
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- In unusual pattern, Oklahoma tornado tracked path of 1999 monster twister with record winds
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Military ombudsman appeals to defence chief over home-equity losses
- A closer look at the 3 new game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony
- First lady: Jobs program has led to training or hiring of 290,000 veterans, military spouses
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- ESPN says it regrets that reporter described gay NBA player Collins as a sinner
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Census 2011 makes history: population in the West surpasses that in the East
- As Boston mourns, suspected brothers' radicalism comes into focus
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Still no winner for $50 million Lotto Max jackpot, but Manitoba has a $1 million winner
- Police: Boston Marathon bomb suspect fired shots from boat, hospitalized in serious condition
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.