Bank heist ‘hero’ Tony Musulin turns himself in

Tony Musulin, the French security guard who became an internet hero after allegedly pulling off an audacious non-violent bank heist, has given himself up in Monaco.

Musulin, an employee of the security firm Loomis, had been the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt for 11 days after he and a van full of €11.6m (approximately £10.3m) in cash vanished from outside a bank in Lyon on November 5.

After €9.1m of the money was later discovered in a lock-up under the the 39-year-old's name, it was thought he may have fled to the Balkans with the remainder. However, it now seems he rode 300 miles south on a rented motorcycle.

Officials in Monaco said Musulin was unshaven and acting strangely when he wandered in to a police station in the principality yesterday: "We still don't understand why he [surrendered] - we don't even know if he understood he was in Monaco."

Musulin was not formally arrested by Monaco authorities as they hadn't received an international arrest warrant. However, they later handed him over to French authorities at the Jardin Exotique, a park marking the border with France.  

The internet community, which had hailed Musulin as a hero for pulling off the perfect crime, was dismayed at his capture, but seemed optimistic regarding his future.

"You will be well paid for just three years in prison," said a Facebook user on one of many fan sites set up in Musulin's honour. A Twitter user commented: "Why is there not amnesty for Musulin who has brought the money back to France? In this country it is only the wealthy who can succeed without going to prison."

Musulin is expected to appear in court in Lyon tomorrow. Because of the non-violent nature of the robbery, he faces a maximum three years in jail if found guilty. ·