Jewellery factory armed robbery in Besançon: 12 arrests
Twelve people have been arrested following the theft of 20 to 50 kilograms of gold from a jewellery factory in Besançon. An armed commando wielding assault rifles carried out the attack on Tuesday morning.
Spectacular gold theft in Besançon
According to TF1 Info, twelve people were arrested following an armed robbery at a jewellery factory on the outskirts of Besançon on Tuesday, 3 November. The operation mobilised the Central Office for Combating Organised Crime (OCLCO) and the Lyon Judicial Police, under the direction of the National Organised Crime Prosecution Office (Pnaco).
The theft took place at around 7 o'clock in the morning. A commando of five masked individuals, armed and wearing ballistic vests, burst into the establishment and seized 20 to 50 kilograms of gold before fleeing. Several shots were fired during the attack.
As they escaped, the robbers scattered nails on the roadway, causing punctures to the tyres of a motorcycle and a police vehicle. The subsequent investigations led to raids that revealed a considerable arsenal: assault rifles, ballistic vests, rocket launchers, police armbands, flashing lights and several vehicles. Several kilograms of gold were also recovered.
According to a source close to the case, the group responsible belongs to the major criminal underworld and was among the offenders most closely monitored by the OCLCO. Their operational base in the Ain department was under observation. The jewellery sector in Besançon, which concentrates several companies working with precious metals, continues to be regularly targeted by robbers.
Source: TF1 Info