Volvo Markkanen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Matti Vilho Olavi Markkanen (born December 4, 1937 in Lapua, Finland), also known as Volvo Markkanen, after his preferred choice of getaway car, is a Finnish bank robber.

Markkanen committed hundreds of crimes, mostly bank robberies, from the 1960s to the early 1980s, in almost every Nordic country.

Markkanen was arrested on November 3, 1980, in Småland, Sweden. He spent the next 20 years in prison, during which he escaped twice.

Taavi Kassila's book Kameleontti ("Chameleon") states that Markkanen also worked as a spy for the KGB and was in the OAS, a French terrorist organisation.

Markkanen currently lives in Fuengirola, Spain.