Thieves steal CHF1.5 million from ATMs in northern Switzerland since 2020

Thieves who blew up and emptied cash machines in canton Aargau in northern Switzerland have stolen over CHF1.5 million ($1.68 million) from the region since 2020. The money was taken by unknown perpetrators in twelve ATM thefts since 2020, the cantonal police said on Friday. In all, the stolen cash and total damage caused by cash machines being blown up amounted to CHF2.16 million. Aargau is attractive to ATM thieves, according to the cantonal police. It's close to the German border, and is a rural region where ATMs are filled up occasionally but with large amounts of cash for reasons of efficiency, it said. The thefts are committed by foreign organised crime gangs, with groups generally acting independently of each other, police commander Michael Leupold explained. They come from Romania, Moldova and the Netherlands, mostly via Germany. The police said they used explosives, homemade laboratory equipment and occasionally explosive gases to blow up the cash machines. Six ATMs...