The security of the transfers of funds of the Bank of France has been reinforced since the "heist of the century" of Toni Musulin, in 2009, indicated Saturday union representatives of Loomis, company victim of a robbery Friday.

In the aftermath of a robbery of a Loomis van in Lyon, in which nine million euros were stolen but which left no injuries, union representatives from the company said on Saturday that the security of fund transfers from the Banque de France has been strengthened since the Toni Musulin affair in 2009. 

A record amount since the robbery of Toni Musulin

"The robbery committed yesterday (Friday) in Lyon took place while journeys between the Banque de France and our stronghold are now carried out without intermediate stop to strengthen the security of these transfers of large sums of money", declared Stéphane Bergey, secretary general of the UNSA Fund Transport Federation. "This practice, which was already in force, was reinforced after the Toni Musulin affair, in particular at the request of insurance companies", specifies the trade unionist, also an employee of Loomis, one of the two main players in the sector in France, with Brink's.

The nine million euros stolen from Lyon on Friday represent a record amount since the "heist of the century" of November 5, 2009. That day, Toni Musulin, driver of a Loomis armored van, who was also leaving the he establishment of the Banque de France located in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, had taken advantage of a stop by his two colleagues in a value processing establishment to quietly leave alone behind the wheel of the vehicle carrying 11.6 million euros.

Elimination of any intermediate shutdown

"The elimination of any intermediate stop at the exit of the Banque de France", wanted by Loomis and the other CIT companies since the Musulin affair, "is effectively followed (...), with very rare exceptions", confirms a CGT representative. "This practice also makes it possible to reduce the travel time during which the vehicle and its crew are exposed to potential attacks", underlines a third employee of the group.

The American Brink's and the Swedish Loomis, which last year bought the CIT business until then carried out in France by the Spanish Prosegur, together concentrate more than 90% of this market in France.