Dutch vending machine burglars mainly active in Germany
Published: Saturday, Apr 20th 2024, 12:20
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According to the police, Dutch ATM blasters have moved their activities almost entirely to Germany. Last year, they blew up eight ATMs in the Netherlands, compared to 367 in Germany, the Dutch police announced in The Hague on Saturday. In 2023, 137 Dutch nationals were arrested for allegedly blowing up ATMs in Germany.
"It has become an export product," said a police spokesperson. Last year, the gangs also blew up ATMs in Switzerland, Austria and Belgium.
According to the police, bank robbery prevention measures in the Netherlands are successful. Looted banknotes are unusable because they automatically stick together after an explosion. In addition, investigators in both countries are working ever more closely together. In addition, the number of ATMs in the Netherlands is significantly smaller. Cashless payments are much more common in the neighboring country.
In 2022, Dutch nationals were responsible for a record 442 explosions in Germany, compared to 367 last year. According to police figures, Dutch gangs carried out 56 explosions in the first three months of 2024, significantly fewer than in the same period last year.
Next week, a trial will begin in Bamberg against 16 Dutchmen who are alleged to have blown up around 90 vending machines in Germany with a total haul of around seven million euros.
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