British Millionaire Abandons Switzerland After Burglars Smash Through Villa Wall and Steal 200kg Safe

British financier Robert Gibbins is returning to London with his family after selling his home in Switzerland, following a burglary in which thieves broke into his villa and removed a 200kg safe containing valuables and irreplaceable family heirlooms.

Gibbins, the founder of investment fund Autonomy Capital, had lived in Switzerland for 15 years. His decision to leave follows a raid on his property in Founex, in the canton of Vaud, which he said had severely damaged his confidence in the country’s reputation for safety.

His fortune is estimated by Swiss newspaper Blick to be between 65 million and 70 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £59 million to £64 million.

Burglars Break Through Wall to Remove Heavy Safe

The break-in took place in the early hours of January 1, when the property was empty.

According to Gibbins, the intruders forced their way into the villa and demolished an interior wall to remove the heavy safe. They then smashed through the property’s main gate to escape.

The safe contained valuables and family heirlooms whose financial value Gibbins declined to disclose. He said some of the stolen possessions were irreplaceable.

He believes the burglars may have researched the property before carrying out the raid, which happened on what he described as “one of the only days of the year” when the house was unoccupied.

Speaking to Le Temps, he said friends in Hong Kong and New York were surprised by the scale of the incident.

“When I tell my friends in Hong Kong or New York what happened to us – a wall knocked down, a 200kg safe ripped out – they assure me they’ve never heard of anything like it,” he said.

He added: “That’s when I realise how much we’ve normalised the unthinkable here.”

Neighbours Reveal Widespread Burglary Concerns

Following the incident, Gibbins spoke with neighbours about security in the surrounding area.

He said their conversations suggested that almost every household nearby had experienced a burglary within the previous three or four years.

He also joined a community WhatsApp alert group in the Coppet area, where residents shared information about suspected prowlers and reported break-ins.

The discussions contributed to the family’s concerns about security in the area.

Police Recommendations Influence Family’s Decision to Leave

Gibbins said the response from cantonal police further weakened the family’s sense of safety.

According to the financier, officers recommended measures including reinforced doors, bulletproof windows and private security.

However, he said the prospect of living behind high walls and floodlights was incompatible with the open society that had attracted him to Switzerland.

The family subsequently decided to sell the villa, withdraw their children from school and move their professional activities to London.

Family Had Built Its Life in Switzerland Over 15 Years

Gibbins described the decision to leave as a painful one, given the family’s long-standing connection to the country.

He moved to Switzerland because he valued its culture of mutual respect and went on to establish businesses there, employ qualified staff and pay substantial taxes. He declined to disclose the amount he had paid.

His two daughters were born and raised in the canton of Vaud, where they developed a Swiss identity that he said he had always been proud of.

Despite the family’s departure, Gibbins said he continued to regard Switzerland as a wonderful place but believed authorities needed to address the security concerns.

“Switzerland is a wonderful place but it absolutely must take action,” he said.

Financier Warns Burglary Concerns Could Affect Business Confidence

Gibbins also warned that Switzerland risked losing business founders if families no longer felt secure living there.

He described his departure as evidence of a wider failure in the system and questioned the tendency to minimise burglaries when nobody was physically injured.

“This departure highlights the breakdown of a system,” he told Le Temps.

“By normalising these crimes on the grounds that no one was physically harmed, Switzerland risks eroding its most valuable asset.”

Swiss Burglary Figures Show Increase in 2025

Official statistics show that burglaries and break-ins across Switzerland increased by 1.2 per cent in 2025, reaching 46,636 cases.

The figures for the canton of Vaud showed a more varied trend. Burglaries across all categories rose by 8.8 per cent, while residential burglaries fell by 8.4 per cent to 2,766 cases.

The number of home burglaries in Vaud was also nearly a third lower than the figure recorded in 2016.

Home invasions remained uncommon but increased to 11 cases in 2025, compared with between one and five annually during the preceding decade.

Police emphasised that such offences remained exceptional, although they could have traumatic consequences for those affected.