Robbers add special touch

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – With cinematic flourish, the masked robbers dropped from a helicopter onto the roof of a Swedish cash depot before dawn, broke into the building through a glass pyramid, set off explosions to get to the millions inside and escaped by hoisting themselves and their haul back up on rope lines.

All in 20 minutes, and all while Stockholm police were grounded by a fake bomb planted outside their own helicopter hangar.

Sweden has had its share of high-profile heists against cash storage facilities, post offices and armored cars in recent years, but police said Wednesday’s commando-style robbery was the first to use a helicopter.

“There are about 100 hard-core criminals in this country who have specialized in this type of serious robbery,” said Jerzy Sarnecki, professor in criminology at Stockholm University. “They are definitely no amateurs.”

A nationwide manhunt was launched for the suspects. Investigators believed at least 10 professional outlaws were involved.

The company that owns the high-security facility, G4S PLC, said the thieves made off with “an unconfirmed sum of money” and added it would offer a large reward for information leading to their arrest and the return of the loot.

Britain-based G4S PLC is one of the world’s largest security companies. The Vastberga facility stores cash that is transported to banks and other businesses in Sweden.

Two men were detained for questioning in Stockholm later Wednesday in connection with the robbery, but police stressed it wasn’t clear if, or how, they were involved.