Thieves bag Italian euro haul

Euros stolen even before they have become legal tender

MILAN, Italy -- Robbers stole about half-a-million euros in cash after breaking into an Italian bank next just days before the introduction of the currency.

They stole cash and expensive jewellery after swinging down ropes into the bank next to the famous La Scala opera house, police said on Thursday. It is the fourth robbery involving euro currency in Italy in the run-up to its launch on January 1.

They managed to break through an armour-plated door and apparently climb back up the ropes with the stolen goods after successfully evading security guards.

It is one of the biggest thefts of euros to have taken place ahead of their introduction on January 1, 2002.

Fifty billion new coins and 14.5 billion new banknotes will become legal tender in the 12 countries which have chosen to adopt the currency and become part of "euroland" on New Year's Day.

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The 12 participating countries are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.

The thieves in Milan dropped into a inner courtyard of Cariplo bank on Wednesday from the roof of the building next to the opera house.

They set off an alarm but private security guards failed to find the gang hiding in the basement, officials said.

By the time the robbery was discovered on Thursday, about 516,000 euros ($455,000) plus jewellery from safe boxes had gone missing.

The gang left behind heavier objects including pictures and silverware, suggesting they had climbed back up the ropes and escaped via the roof, police said.