ATM attacks in the canton: it takes four years

Three ATMs attacked in less than a year in the canton of Fribourg. You may remember, the first explosion dates back to the summer of 2022. The bandits had targeted the Gruyère restaurant, in Avry-devant-Pont. A few months later, they attacked a ATM located in Gumefens, before targeting a third, in Glâne, in Villaz-Saint-Pierre. It was January 2023. And it was one time too many. The three men were then arrested by the police. Since then, they have been sleeping in prison.

Today, the first member of this gang was tried by the Gruyère Tribunal. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison, after being found guilty of professional theft, gang theft and explosion. This French national will also be expelled from Swiss territory for 15 years, after completing his sentence in Bellechasse.

A relavitely lenient sentence which can be explained by the collaboration of this man. “The investigation was delicate and difficult,” underlined the prosecutor, who added that the defendant’s confessions helped it move forward.

For his part, the 38-year-old man, shaved head, good beard, gray sweater and colorful sports shoes, declared that he “would not do his stupid things again when he gets out of prison”. That he had been able to refocus on himself since he was behind bars. And that he would now put all his energy into a start-up project to create edible cutlery.

Professional work

According to the Public Prosecutor’s indictment, we understand that these attacks on ATMs were the work of very well organized professionals. They had also carried out several scouting operations before taking action.

The equipment seized by the Friborg cantonal police also allows us to see their level of preparation: headlamp, wheeled trolley with flame welding equipment, two blowtorch heads, a can of expanding foam and even walkie-talkies.

This same gang also attacked a ATM in the canton of Vaud at the beginning of 2022. Of the four attacks carried out, they only left once with money. It was in Avry-devant-Pont, where their loot amounted to nearly 410,000 francs.

The other two men will be tried soon by the Gruyère Criminal Court. They could receive harsher sentences.