Just one bank robbery occurred in Belgium in 2021

Bank robberies have all but disappeared in Belgium, according to statistics of the Belgian financial sector federation Febelfin. Last year just one Belgian bank was robbed. This is a stark difference from ten years ago, when 44 robberies were reported. The number of ATM robberies and bank break-ins has dropped as well. 

Nowadays, less cash is stored in bank buildings. This is the primary cause for this remarkable decrease, according to Febelfin employee Isabelle Marchand. "If you want to withdraw money from a bank today, for example, you have to let them know in advance and make an appointment. Branches are equipped in such a way that there is hardly any cash left and that makes it less attractive for criminals to commit a bank robbery," she said in a reaction to VRT NWS.

The only bank robbery in Belgium in 2021 occurred in Charleroi. Last December, five robbers took personnel of the bank CPH hostage, emptied the safe and started a fire. 

(TOM)

The scene of an attempted robbery with explosive devices at the KBC bank in Kinrooi in 2019. - © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND