In Switzerland, a Donation Box Was Stolen at a High Altitude

In Switzerland, thieves have managed to steal a donation box from an altitude of over 2 kilometers by conquering one of the country's most challenging protected rock climbing routes at the Gemmi Pass. They crossed ravines at a height of 2350 meters using narrow steel cables in order to pilfer the donation box.

The incident, as reported by BBC, involves a donation box belonging to a local rock climbing club that maintains the climbing route at the pass. This route is known to be one of the most difficult, requiring experienced mountaineers. It entails both ascents and descents, climbing ladders affixed to vertical cliffs, and traversing ravines using narrow steel cables.

The audacity of the thieves' actions lies in the fact that only highly experienced climbers would normally attempt this route. The climbers who detected the theft believe it was meticulously planned in advance.

The climbing club expressed shock, stating on their Facebook page, "Who are these people? The climbing club looks after this route voluntarily, without any compensation. We ask for nothing, and now someone has stolen the money donated for its maintenance."

Upon discovery, the donation box was found broken and empty. The thieves were not only adept climbers but also well-equipped with the necessary mountaineering gear. They brought tools to forcibly break open the donation box, as reported by the climbing club.

Strangely, after the theft, the thieves continued their ascent to the summit at 2941 meters, with the stolen funds in their possession. However, identifying the culprits might prove challenging, given the perfect climbing weather in recent days, attracting many alpinists to the area.

The climbing club remains uncertain about the exact amount stolen, but club member and mountain guide Richard Verlen estimated it to be at least 400-500 Swiss francs (approximately 420-520 euros).

As reported by The Gaze, British and Swiss police successfully conducted a special operation to recover a vase from the Mīng Dynasty worth $2.5 million to the Geneva Museum. This artwork had been stolen in 2019.

This year, British police managed to identify and arrest members of a criminal group responsible for the theft and attempted sale of artworks. The London police statement confirmed that two men have been found guilty of attempting to sell the valuable vase. Another individual has also admitted guilt and is awaiting trial, while two others are awaiting trial in Switzerland. They are all accused of direct involvement in the robbery.