Paris - Police have recovered most of the 11.6 million euros (17.2 million dollars) stolen last week in the French city of Lyon by the driver of an armoured van transporting the money, Lyonpublic prosecutor Xavier Richaud said Monday. The discovery of more than 9 million euros, in a rental car parked in a garage near Lyon, was actually made early Saturday, Richaud said.
Police believe that 39-year-old Toni Musulin, a driver for the Loomis security company, rented the car and the garage in order to hide the booty.
Musulin is suspected of driving off on Thursday with the armoured van and 38 sacs of bills belonging to the Bank of France when the van's two guards left him alone to collect more money from a bank. The van was found shortly afterwards.
Since his seemingly perfect crime, Musulin has become a hero on the internet, with a Facebook page that now counts more than 1,000 friends.
"Really classy," wrote one admirer. "Enjoy your millions."
"Without weapons or violence," wrote another. "Respect."
In addition, a website - www.abrutishirt.com - is selling a line of t-shirts bearing Musulin's photograph and various comments, such as "The World is Yours" and "Tony - Best Driver 2009."
Meanwhile, news station i-tele reported that the manhunt for Musulin has spread abroad, with the search concentrating on Western and Eastern Europe.
