'Considerable' haul in Casino' di Venezia hold-up
UPDATED: Adds new footage, police statement:
A group of up to five men carried out a daring hold-up at the Casino di Venezia at Vittoriosa waterfront this evening and then escaped on a speedboat.
Informed sources said armed, hooded men had entered the casino - which is protected by surveillance cameras - and then escaped on a boat.
The police said the men had demanded cash from the casino workers and escaped with a 'considerable' sum. Unconfirmed reports initially said the haul could be around €100,000. Later, informed sources said the thieves got away with significantly more, but they could not give a figure.
A Pajero vehicle believed to have been used by the men ended up in the sea off Fort St Angelo as the thieves made their getaway.
No one was injured.
The police and the AFM conducted a search for the boat along the coast. Police cars were seen going around various beaches and a helicopter patrolled the coast.
PHOTOGRAPHER ASSAULTED
A photographer of The Times/timesofmalta.com was assaulted by a man believed to be a casino' employee as he went about his duties. The photographer was pushed to the ground, punched and slightly injured before the police intervened.
26 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Peter Shaw
Feb 4th 2010, 16:59
The theives mistook Birgu for Ricasoli cos they wanted to shoot 'Maltese job'. Pity they got awa ywith real money :))
MARIO CAMILLERI
Feb 4th 2010, 15:01
AS REGULAR DINERS AT THE CASINO DI VENEZIA WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SECURITY TO GUIDE US TO THE LIFT. HE EVEN PRESS THE FLOOR BUTTON FOR US. THIS IS DONE FOR SECURITY REASONS NOT FOR COURTESY. FAIR ENOUGH, BUT LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON A MAN WITH CRUTCHES, STOPPED THE CAR INFRONT OF THE CASINO,GOT HIS CRUTCHES WALKED IN SMILED AT THE RECEPTIONIST AND TOLD HER TO GET SOMEONE TO GET HIS CAR AWAY AND WALKED STRAIGHT IN WITHOUT ANY SORT OF IDENTIFICATION. IS THIS CALLED SECURITY? SECURITY MY FOOT.
dusty williams
Feb 4th 2010, 13:37
Nies jiehdu t-tebut biex jitfnu l-mara fih, issa serqa spettakolari ala James Bond, ha nghidlek hawn it-talent aw Malta ta. Hollywood jirrectaw pero Malta 'we're for real" action.
A.Mifsud
Feb 4th 2010, 13:14
So afterall the escapees ended up as net winners. And considering they were at the casino for a few seconds they have achieved a high reward for their gamble.
Is not access to vehicles restricted to St Angelo and Casino di Venezia? How on earth did the pajero that eventually ended up in the water get easy access inside? No CTTV in operation?
L Simpson
Feb 4th 2010, 12:27
...it amazes me the extent they go to for such a small amount. Oceans 11 was 150m$. This ridiculous 'armed' stunt was for €100k between 5 people... would could you get for that????....a single garage! so not worth the risk of jail term or worse case lose of life of some innocent member of staff. crazy
l borg
Feb 4th 2010, 10:26
now that is what i call professional casino players
Gerard Cassar
Feb 4th 2010, 09:30
Does a radar exists to follow all movments on the sea. If so was it active that night and did it follow the movment of the speed boat going through the harbour and outside.
If there is not then it is time to have one or more for the purpose. If I recall well even fishing boats have some sort of radar and even yachts.
A. Borg
Feb 4th 2010, 09:08
andre camiller,
Jekk kaz ma solviehx f'inqas minn 3 xhur,il-probabilita hija li mhu sa solvieh qatt!
D. Scerri
Feb 4th 2010, 09:06
The bouncer could not distinguish between the thief and the photographer!. Just a small hint for next time...the journalists/photographers tend to come later at the crime scene.
A. Schembri
Feb 4th 2010, 08:31
surveillance cameras at site, escape in boat..... use of helicopters and patrol boats, control tower radar etc. Surly these people cannot just disappear off the surface of the water
Did they leave the Grand Harbour?
Ma nafx.....
Rocco Camilleri
Feb 4th 2010, 08:23
Don't let these guys mislead you because if they had time, they may be at shore. These seem to be professional criminals and plan far in advance when doing hold ups.
Kathy Elliot
Feb 4th 2010, 08:06
Noel Zerafa put it perfectly; we even had the 'Venice' theme going! Now ... all we need is a soundtrack.
How about Pink Panther, next?
I Vella
Feb 4th 2010, 07:34
Probably they just left to sicily with the speedboat and all the money!
N.Lawrence
Feb 4th 2010, 04:37
which is protected by surveillance cameras???- didn't seem to do much good.
It's like having a watch dog- that watches the thieves taking the swag!
R. Gauci
Feb 4th 2010, 00:29
Is-serqiet u hold-ups saru jixbhu hafna lil dawk li jsiru fl-Amerika pero sfortunatament is-sentenzi li jinghataw mill-Qrati taghna ma jixbhux lil dawk li jinghataw hemm. Kieku dan jigri kieku hafna minn dawn il-hallelin ikunu maqfulin fejn jixirqilhom, gol-gagga, u mhux jiggerrew mas-saqajn jaghmlu l-hold-ups u jipperikolaw hajjet in-nies, nghid dan peress li hafna minnhom ikunu recidivi ghal darba tnejn.
L Debono
Feb 3rd 2010, 22:55
Unless violent crime is dealt with harsh aggression it will flourish. If a criminal points a gun at a hostage and threatens to kill, he / she should be taken out. That means that potential targets have to be guarded with trained and armed personnel.
A few counteractions like this and they get back in their shell.
C.Mercieca
Feb 3rd 2010, 22:29
@ A. Dimech,
this problem of retaining professionals in their profession is not only found in the police corp but also in other fields. This problem is recurrent throughout in Malta. Unfortunately it seems that Maltese brains are better appreciated elsewhere rather than in their own country.
This is my interpretation of how things are...
andre camilleri
Feb 3rd 2010, 22:12
@anthony dimech
mela kaz tahseb li ssolvih fi 3 xhur. L-evidenza biss toghod fil-qorti. Police are still working on unsolved cases of 10/15 and more years ago. maybe the forensic expert who served 25 years did not want to work and retired happily... forsi jgawdi ftit il-familja
A. Borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 21:57
Adrian Tanti ,
Il-Korp tal-Pulizija tilef l-aqwa ufficjali investigativi.Ghamlu 25 sena servizz u l-Korp m'ghamel xejn biex izzommhom hemm. Issa qeghdin nehdu l-frott ta dan kollu. Kif jista jkun li jkollhok l-uniku ufficjal forensiku li hafna esperjenza hadha barra minn Malta u wara li ghalaq 25 sena ma taghmel xejn biex izzommu? Kif jista jkun ikollhok ufficjali li wara li igradwaw jithallew jitilqu qisu qatt ma gara xejn?
D.Galea
Feb 3rd 2010, 21:51
Who Dares Wins ... Especially if they had resources ...
Adrian Tanti
Feb 3rd 2010, 21:42
Mid dehra dawn huma l istess nies li kkomettew il Hold-ups fl HSBC BALZAN u Fuq Cash Van ta Security Service Qorm. Dawn l grupp ta nies jaggixxu b mod ferm professjonali f pajjizna. Milli smajt 5 dahlu gol Casino plus aktar nies fuq speedboat u vetturi. L Holdups profesjonali l ohra kienu jinvolvu madwar 8 persuni. Mid dehra dawn n nies ha jibqu misterjuzi. Hi naqa tal mishijja biex f pajjizna ma jinstab xej. L aktar xi garaxx kbir li fih hafna vetturi misruqa li jintuzaw f serq simili
JC Mifsud
Feb 3rd 2010, 21:36
Dan il-pajjiz ghandu suq miftuh ........... ghal hold ups imma :-)
A. Borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 20:16
WOW. Nahseb l-istess grupp tal-Hold-up ta Hal Qormi dawn.
Hafna kazi ricenti qed jibqghu mhux solvuti. Qed niftakar fil-kaz ta tal-bomba ta Hal Qormi,fil-qtil tat-taljan gewwa San Pawl,fil-Hold-up fuq il-van tas-sigurta gewwa Hal Qormi.Dawn in-nies ghadhom jigru barra u ghalhekk se nibqghu nisimghu ahbarjiet bhal dawn.
M.Brincat
Feb 3rd 2010, 20:13
Qisna tal-films sirna.
Noel Zerafa
Feb 3rd 2010, 20:10
Last time's robbery was '"Ocean's Eleven". This time it was the "Italian Job". Hollywood is contagious.
Noel Zerafa
Feb 3rd 2010, 20:07
Last time's robbery was ''Ocean's 11" this time it was "The Italian Job" lol.