After two ATMs in Franconia were blown up, the police are examining a connection between the two acts. On Tuesday night, a container with an ATM was blown up in the south of Fürth, and the perpetrators escaped undetected. On Wednesday night, unknown persons blew up another machine about 150 kilometers away in the Lower Franconian market town of Großostheim. The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA) has taken over the investigation.
The investigation must show whether there is a connection between the cases, said a spokeswoman, the procedure for the crimes was at least “very similar”. Nevertheless, it was “too short term to say with absolute certainty”.
In both cases, according to the police, the perpetrators used explosives to gain access to the money in the machines. The forensic institute of the LKA will examine the explosives in the coming days.
In the Fürth case, the police assume that there were two perpetrators who fled in an SUV. How many there were in Großostheim was not finally clarified on Wednesday morning. However, the spokeswoman confirmed that there were at least two who allegedly escaped with a dark Audi. She did not say how much money the perpetrators stole. The police generally avoid this in order not to create any incentives. According to initial estimates, the damage to property in Fürth is around 50,000 euros, not including the loot. The financial damage in Großostheim has not yet been determined.
Bombings of ATMs have been increasing for some time. Last year, the number in Bavaria reached a high of 37. “Blowing up ATMs is the bank robbery of the modern age,” said Minister of Justice Georg Eisenreich (CSU) in February after a successful investigation into a gang from the Netherlands. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) called for stricter security measures to deter perpetrators.