High-altitude robbery! Daring thieves risk lives to climb the 2,000-meter Swiss mountain pass, one of the toughest climbs in the world – only to steal money from an isolated donation box
- The group traversed canyons using steel cables to loot the climbing club’s chest
Thieves have risked their lives climbing a Swiss mountain pass only to steal money from an isolated donation box in a daring high-altitude robbery.
The group reached an altitude of 2,000 meters and traversed canyons to loot the box, which is owned by a local climbing club that maintains the route, one of the most challenging in the country.
Switzerland’s longest protected climbing route on the Gemmi Pass above the village of Leukerbad is rated level 5, the most difficult.
It requires serious climbing and climbing ladders attached to the vertical rock face, and traversing canyons with thin steel cables, meaning the donation box is only accessible to experienced climbers.
“What kind of people are these?” writes the climbing club on its Facebook page.
A climber traversing the gorges on Gemmi Pass. The group reached an altitude of 2,000 meters to loot the chest, which is owned by a local climbing club, which maintains the route
The donation box was found broken and all the money was gone. Those involved used ‘brute force’ to get to the tool box, according to the climbing club
The climbing club posted an angry message on the official Facebook page of the via ferrata
“The climbing club manages the via ferrata without a salary, we don’t ask for anything, and now someone has stolen the money donated to maintain it.”
The donation box was found broken and all the money was gone.
Those involved used “brute force” to access it with tools, according to the climbing club.
It appears they then took the money with them on their climb to the top of the Dauberhorn, at 3,648 feet, the BBC reports.
Those who discovered the theft believe it was planned some time in advance.
The route has had ideal climbing conditions in recent days, so it can be difficult to track down the culprits.
The climbing club does not know the exact amount stolen, but club member and mountain guide Richard Werlen told the BBC it was probably at least 400 to 500 Swiss francs (£359-449).
Cash is still used regularly in the country and the Swiss take pride in their volunteer work in maintaining hiking trails and climbing routes, so many hikers are happy to help.