The men were detained in April this year, on the same day when an ATM exploded in Vaala (approx. 100 km south of Oulu).
Local police were notified about the loss of connection to the ATM in the morning. It was also reported that an explosion was heard in the area and that “a car with a dragged metal block with sparks flying from it” drove away from the ATM. The patrol found the remains of a broken ATM on a forest road, about five kilometers from the scene of the incident. In the afternoon, three Polish citizens were detained on suspicion of crime and stayed in one of the nearby centers, said a statement from the Central Criminal Police Bureau (KRP).
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The gang was well prepared for the attack
According to investigators, the act was carefully planned, prepared and carried out in a professional manner. The gang had fake license plates, and spikes were also found in the car, which could be thrown in front of the police car to puncture the tires, it was emphasized.
The total value of financial losses related to the ATM explosion in Vaala is approximately PLN 85,000. euro, which includes the stolen money, the value of the machine itself and material damage caused by the explosion. Almost all the banknotes from the ATM were confiscated from the suspects.
Poles linked to other ATM explosions
According to the police, the Polish ring is also linked to two other similar ATM explosions that occurred in Finland in the fall of 2024 in the towns of Tervajoki near Vaasa and Eura near Pori. The money stolen from these ATMs has not yet been recovered, and the total value of financial losses caused by these explosions is estimated at approximately PLN 200,000. euro.
— These types of crimes are very rare in Finland. From the beginning of the investigation, one of the threads was the assumption that the perpetrators were probably professional criminals who came to Finland from abroad, said Commissioner Juha-Pekka Karkkola.
— The suspects are still in custody, we are cooperating with the Polish police in the investigation. The men deny the charges against them, KRP reported.
