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Date Published: 03/10/2022

Italian bank robber wanted in Switzerland is captured in Benidorm

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The fugitive arrested in the Marina Baixa region of Alicante province allegedly robbed three Swiss banks at gunpoint

Italian bank robber wanted in Switzerland is captured in Benidorm

A violent fugitive on the run from authorities in Switzerland over the robbery of three banks at gunpoint has been arrested in Benidorm.

The 30-year-old Italian man was subject to a European arrest warrant issued following the bank jobs in which almost 74,000 euros was stolen.

The first of the robberies occurred in early 2018 when the suspect allegedly entered a bank in the Swiss town of Ebikon at around 3pm, and, armed with a pistol, ordered the cashier to hand over cash. He fled on a motorbike with 27,130 euros.

A month later, he reportedly went back to the same branch and, in this case, made off with a haul of 13,000 euros. The third robbery took place approximately three months later, in a town called Emmen, just 8km away where he used the same modus operandi to steal 30,000 euros. According to the arrest warrant, he was assisted in all three robberies by an accomplice.

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Two months later, he tried to commit a fourth robbery at the first bank, but was recognised by an employee when he tried to enter and the suspect ran off.

He fled the country and was only apprehended in Benidorm after his "suspicious and elusive attitude" attracted the attention of a Local Police patrol and officers carried out a routine identification check. They quickly discovered there was a warrant for his arrest.

When officers tried to apprehend the fugitive, he became aggressive, according to police sources, kicking and punching the arresting officers before he was eventually detained.

The 30-year-old, who already has a police record in Spain, has appeared before Benidorm Magistrates' Court which will begin extradition procedures.

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