A British millionaire, Robert Gibbins, founder of investment fund Autonomy Capital, has decided to leave Switzerland after a brazen burglary at his Lake Geneva villa. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of January 1, saw intruders force their way into his home, demolish an interior wall, and steal a safe weighing over 200kg. The safe contained valuables and irreplaceable family heirlooms.
Gibbins, who has lived in Switzerland for 15 years, told Swiss newspaper Le Temps that the event shattered his confidence in the country's reputation for safety. He described the raid as unprecedented, noting that friends in Hong Kong and New York had never heard of similar incidents. The thieves reportedly smashed through the main gate to escape with the heavy safe.
The financier has sold his villa in Founex and is returning to London with his family. He believes the burglars had conducted reconnaissance before targeting his property, which was empty on the day of the break-in. The scale of the theft and the methods used have prompted Gibbins to question the perceived security of Switzerland.
Conversations with neighbors revealed that many households in the vicinity had experienced burglaries in recent years. Gibbins also joined a local community alert group where residents shared reports of prowlers and break-ins. However, the official response further eroded his sense of security. Cantonal police reportedly suggested reinforced doors, bulletproof windows, or private security.
Gibbins found the prospect of living behind such extensive security measures to be contrary to the principles of an open society. He stated that the departure marked a painful end to his time in Switzerland, a country he was initially drawn to for its culture of mutual respect. He had established businesses, employed staff, and paid taxes in the country, and his two daughters were born and raised there.
"This departure highlights the breakdown of a system," Gibbins told Le Temps. "By normalising these crimes on the grounds that no one was physically harmed, Switzerland risks eroding its most valuable asset."
Official statistics indicate a mixed picture regarding crime in Switzerland. Burglaries and break-ins nationwide rose by 1.2% to 46,636 cases in 2025. In the Vaud canton, burglaries increased by 8.8%, though home burglaries specifically decreased by 8.4% compared to 2016 figures. Home invasions, while rare, saw an increase to 11 cases in 2025, up from one to five annually in the preceding decade. Cantonal police have acknowledged these offenses can be traumatic but remain exceptional.
Gibbins warned that Switzerland could lose business founders and investors if such security concerns are not adequately addressed. He concluded, "Switzerland is a wonderful place, but it absolutely must take action."