Another day in wild west Europe: How robbery gangs stop at nothing to pull off spectacular heists across the continent as 'fake cops' blow up security van on Italian highway
From armed gangs posing as police and detonating explosives in broad daylight, to thieves smashing their way into world-famous galleries, violent robberies have become an alarmingly regular occurrence across Europe.Just yesterday, a gang of Kalashnikov-wielding thieves shocked Italy after they blew up an armoured van during a brazen raid on a motorway. The masked criminals, who posed as police, blocked a section of the State Road 613 in the Puglia region on Monday before setting a truck on fire.Dramatic footage showed the bandits crouching behind a car as the armoured vehicle exploded on the road, with flames and debris billowing into the air.Other clips filmed by motorists showed at least six masked suspects, some wearing white overalls and carrying weapons, moving between vehicles and exchanging fire with real cops as terrified drivers watched on.Other drivers caught up in the ambush were also robbed, according to Italian media.The suspects then fled, triggering a chase with the Carabinieri, during which a police car was hit by three gunshots and an unmarked vehicle was rammed.The terrifying raid is the latest among Europe's growing list of violent heists, and serves as another example of how brazen gangs across the continent will stop at nothing, whether they are targeting valuable artwork, historical jewels and cash convoys, all while endangering the lives of those around them. Heavily-armed robbers posing as police blocked an Italian highway and blew up an armoured van during a brazen raid yesterday in southern Italy. Dramatic footage shows the bandits crouching behind a car as the armoured vehicle explodes on the road Other clips filmed by motorists show at least six masked suspects, some wearing white overalls and carrying weapons, moving between vehicles as terrified drivers looked on The attack unfolded between the small towns of Cerano and San Pietro Vernotico, where masked gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles shut down the road in front of shocked motoristsCommando-style highway heist A gang of criminals armed with Kalashnikovs spectacularly stole £3.4million of pension funds from a convoy of armoured security vans on the Italian island of Sardinia. Dressed in military uniform, the thugs forced the vehicles to a halt after using a stolen rubbish collection lorry to block a motorway near the town of Sassari in February 2024. The thieves then opened fire on the convoy, shooting one of the security guards in the leg before forcing the van's safes open and taking off with the money. Footage from the violent scene showed how the gun-wielding thugs approached the van, forcing the driver to get out. Another clip shows thick plumes of smoke billowing out from the vehicle, bringing the road to a standstill as bystanders watch the van burn in shock. The gang's forceful tactics were compared to those previously used by a criminal network from Italy's southern town of Cerignola, which is responsible for a series of high-profile robberies in the country's recent history. According to Italian authorities, highway robberies are a growing phenomenon in Sardinia, with about seven being carried out since 2015. A gang of criminals stole £3.4million of pension funds from a convoy of armoured security vans on the Italian island of Sardinia. Footage shows the thieves dressed in military gear approaching the vehicle Clip shows thick plumes of smoke billowing out from the vehicle,Gang rips open van with diggersA gang of four thieves blocked off a security van near the Italian town of Bari back in 2019 before ripping it open with a mechanical digger. The bandits trapped the vehicle with two lorries, then fired into the air to scare the security guards inside it. Two mechanical diggers were used like can openers to prise open the back of the vehicle and get out £2million in cash. Both lorries were then set on fire while the diggers were abandoned at the scene after the assault, while the masked robbers escaped in two cars. Images showed the aftermath of the attack, with a crushed-up van seen next to one of the diggers. A separate picture showed one of the lorries used by the thieves on fire. Two mechanical diggers were used to prise open the back of the vehicle to get to the cash Aftermath of the robbery in Sardiia shows a lorry on fire Tollbooth ambush: Security van smashed in £7.8m jewellery raidArmed robbers targeted security vans carrying jewels in a late-night raid near the town of Auxerre in France. The 2015 incident saw about 15 men attack two vans on the A6 highway at the Avallon tollbooth in the Yonne department. The haul of stolen jewels was estimated at around £7.8million.The robbers are understood to have used gas on the drivers before using diggers to crack open the vans. No shots were fired, but the thieves managed to empty the vehicles of their contents before fleeing the scene. The vans were then set on fire and were later discovered by police. Armed robbers in France attacked security vans carying jewels back in 2015. The vans are pictured here after they were set on fire by the criminals Daylight robberyThree hooded men violently robbed a group of Chinese businessmen and women on the outskirts of Madrid. The incident occurred in October in the La Cantueña industrial park near the Spanish capital city. The victims, three men and two women, had just exited a taxi, unaware that a red vehicle was waiting for them. Footage showed how the red car mounted the pavement and drove along it to reach its targets. Three hooded men, armed with pistols, then jumped out of the vehicle and proceeded to point their weapons at the victims, before snatching their bags and leaving them trembling on the floor in shock and fear. Three hooded men violently robbed a group of Chinese businessmen and women on the outskirts of Madrid Footage shows a red car mounted the pavement while the thieves attack their targets A thief is shown snatching a bag off a Chinese man on the outskirts of Madrid back in October The three hooded men were armed with pistols as they carried out their assault The victims were left trembling on the floor as the thieves took off with their belongings Dutch museum bomb raid A group of thieves last year stole a 'priceless' 2,400-year-old gold helmet after blasting their way into a Dutch history museum.The robbers entered the Drents Museum in Assen, a small city in the northeast, last January after forcing the door open with explosives. They snatched several 'archaeological masterpieces' from the facility, including the golden helmet of Cotofenesti and three bracelets traced back to ancient Romanian royalty. No injuries were reported in the explosion, although the museum building was damaged and had to close for the weekend. Dramatic footage showed how robbers used explosives to force their way into the museum, with CCTV capturing a bomb going off before the thieves hurried into the museum while a cloud of smoke billowed into the air. Among the stolen 'masterpieces' was the golden helmet of Cotofenesti, which dates back to roughly 450 BC. Dramatic footage showed how robbers used explosives to force their way into the Drents museum in Assen CCTV captured a bomb going off before the thieves hurried into the museum while a cloud of smoke billowed into the air The robbers are said to have snatched several 'archaeological masterpieces'The billion euro museum smash and grab Thieves grabbed jewels and other treasures worth up to a billion euros from an eastern German museum back in 2019. The intruders cut the electricity supply in Dresden's Gruenes Gewoelbe, or Green Vault museum, which houses one of Europe's largest collections of jewellery and court riches.CCTV footage showed the robbers forcefully breaking a display case, with two thieves seen storming into a jewel room armed with flashlights and axes. Three members of a crime family were arrested a year later for robbery and arson and were linked to the spectacular heist. Thieves grabbed jewels and other treasures worth up to a billion euros from Germany's Green Vault museum CCTV footage showed the robbers forcefully breaking a display caseLouvre HeistLast year, a gang of daring thieves shocked the world after they raided the iconic Louvre in Paris, snatching the priceless Eugénie Crown before dropping it outside as they fled.Thieves used a crane and smashed an upstairs window in a jaw-dropping heist of the world's most visited museum, before swiping priceless jewellery and escaping on motorbikes back in October. The seven-minute raid, which remarkably took place in broad daylight as thousands of tourists visited the museum, saw the theft of a necklace and a brooch once belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.The Eugénie Crown, which is set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was also taken during the rare heist.Incredible CCTV footage showed the moment the thieves smashed into display cases before brazenly seizing their loot. One of the masked thieves could be seen using his forearm to punch through cracked glass before reaching inside and grabbing three precious ornaments. One robber was shown stuffing the goods into an inside pocket under his hi-vis jacket before picking up his bag, which sat amid a scattering of broken glass, and quickly walking away. The minute-long security camera clip, shared on French TV news show Sept à Huit, captured two burglars each breaking into the glass cases before brazenly seizing their loot Both thieves can then be seen working together to smash their way into a second, larger case, stealing pieces of valuable jewellery before dashing from the sceneBoth were then seen working together to smash their way into a second, larger case, stealing pieces of valuable jewellery before dashing from the scene.The entire operation, which saw £76million worth of jewellery stolen, lasted only four minutes, from 9:35am to 9:39am, on October 19 at the Louvre's Apollo Gallery.
