The Caisse d’Épargne de Vic cash machine attacked with “explosives”, damage estimated at €100,000

Bis repeat… After the explosive attack on the automatic teller machine (ATM) located in the Bazet shopping center on September 27, it was that of the Caisse d'Épargne agency in Vic-en- Bigorre who was the target of criminals, using the same procedure: they “blew up” the machine, in order to take the notes it contained, before fleeing.

As soon as the alert was given by neighbors awakened by the detonation, the gendarmes canvassed the area and dispatched several units to the site. “We mobilized the brigades from Tarbes and Vic, as well as men from the PSIG (Gendarmerie Surveillance and Intervention Platoon),” explains squadron leader Thibault La Fay. “We also sent our ICT (Criminal Identification Techniques) team to look for the slightest clue. And then, as with the Bazet case, we received support from the Toulouse Research Section as well as the Central Office for the Fight against Traveling Crime.”

Damage estimated at €100,000

All morning, investigators combed the area with a fine-tooth comb. Although the distributor's armored door did not appear to have been completely torn off, it was wide open, while numerous debris, probably the ATM screen and other parts of the machine, remained spread out on the road, access to which was obviously totally forbidden, time to collect clues, and not to arouse unhealthy desires if tickets were still present and accessible in the distributor…

Unlike the Société Générale de Bazet ATM, which was “mobile”, that of Vic-en-Bigorre was integrated into the bank's walls. And therefore perhaps better “protected”… On the other hand, as the attack occurred during the night from Sunday to Monday and on Monday many agencies are closed, including that of the Caisse d'Épargne de Vic-en -Bigorre, the loot had not been estimated precisely, but taking into account the damage caused, the damage would amount to €100,000, according to prosecutor Bérengère Prud'Homme, who also indicates that the criminals were two, and were hooded .

“A similar procedure”

For the moment, the investigators are not very verbose, the results of the samples have not yet all come back, and the examination of the clues is necessarily meticulous.

“These are always long-term investigations,” continues Commander La Fay, “we have been able to collect numerous clues. All I can tell you is that the modus operandi is very similar to that of Bazet.” To reassure everyone, let us point out that the expression “blow up” the dispenser does not imply the use of explosives. According to the “current” method, it would be a specific gas used by these specialists. Among the elements available to investigators, Commander La Fay underlines “the importance of video surveillance systems, I invite all municipalities to equip themselves with such systems, which allow us to move forward quickly with investigations.” A way of indicating that, precisely, the video surveillance “spoke”, and that valuable information (vehicle, direction of escape, etc.) was collected through this means? This is very likely, and it would explain why many Vicquois residents have noticed, all day long, uninterrupted flights over the area by helicopters…