New concept at a Belgian bank: safe with a hole
A customer at a Belgian bank branch had a nasty surprise when she went into her vault. It was completely empty! Jewelry and banknotes had disappeared, with no sign of a burglary.
In itself, it seems logical to consider a bank as a safe place to deposit valuables in one of their vault boxes. Especially since, in addition to traditional security, there is insurance in case of a hold-up or burglary. Samira, 58, was in this frame of mind. Yet last summer, she was unpleasantly surprised to discover that €35,000 had disappeared from her safe at the BNP Fortis branch in Zellik, in the Flemish Brabant near Brussels. Everything was empty: not a single cash envelope, and no jewelry either!
Prove it
She was obviously shocked. The bank, of which she is a loyal customer, was equally surprised. However, according to Het Laatste Nieuws and La Libre Belgique, this isn't an isolated case. The Belgian federation of the financial sector points out that, despite its complaint, it will have to “prove that there has been a loss”, in other words that the bank is indeed responsible for a breach. Which is why she's now talking about her misadventure. So, who took Samira's money and jewels? A relative, an employee, a new Arsène Lupin, Garou-Garou, the Tooth Fairy?
(MH with Olivier Duquesne - Sources : La Libre Belgique & Het Laatste Nieuws - Picture : © picture alliance / Zoonar | Cigdem Simsek)