Brian Bo Larsen: Daring escape from Vridsløselille

On December 13, 2014, Brian Bo Larsen, one of Denmark's most notorious criminals and a renowned escape artist, disappeared from the otherwise high-security Vridsløselille State Prison near Copenhagen. The escape, which took place in the middle of the night, not only marked another chapter in his long criminal career; it was a daring operation involving sawed-through bars and a perilous climb down the prison wall.

This spectacular prison break once again highlighted the security in Denmark's prisons and the challenges faced by the Danish Prison and Probation Service.

Escape method: Sawed bars and a rope ladder of linen

Inside his cell, the then 40-year-old Larsen – who had already spent more than half his life behind bars and had over 20 previous prison escapes to his name – had methodically sawed through the window bars with a hacksaw. He then used a homemade rope ladder, woven from stolen bed linen and netting from a ball, to scale the prison's inner and outer walls. The first part was a demanding climb up to the prison roof.

Afterwards, he attempted to lower himself approximately 17-18 meters to freedom outside the prison using a rope he had made himself. However, the rope snapped during the descent, and Brian Bo Larsen fell the last five to six meters onto the asphalt. Despite a sprained foot and pain from the fall, he managed to disappear into the December darkness in Albertslund.

Nine days running: Armed robbery and Funen car chase

Larsen's time at liberty lasted only nine days and was marked by the same ingenuity and desperation that characterized his escape. Along with an accomplice and in a stolen car, he committed an armed robbery at a SuperBrugsen supermarket in Kværndrup on Funen. Wielding a sawed-off shotgun, he threatened the staff and made off with almost 100,000 kroner.

The manhunt for the escaped prisoner culminated on the night of December 22nd in a reckless car chase on the country roads of Funen. During the chase, Larsen, who was under the influence of drugs, lost control of the car and drove into a private garden, crashing into several trees. A swift report from a resident led police to the scene. There, they found Brian Bo Larsen, wearing a wig in an attempt to conceal his identity, hiding in some bushes and were able to arrest him.

The man behind: Restless and early start in crime

Behind the repeated escapes and persistent criminality lay a complex personality and a turbulent past. Larsen himself described a restlessness and an inner energy that constantly put him at odds with the system. This drive may have stemmed from a childhood marked by violence and fleeing from an abusive father.

His criminal career began unusually early: car theft at age 8, robbery with a bayonet at 13, and his first prison sentence at just 15. His own explanation for the numerous escapes was an intense desire to experience as much as possible in the short time freedom lasted – a life philosophy that often resulted in further punishment.

Price of escape: Sentence and isolation in East Jutland

The 2014 escape had serious consequences for Brian Bo Larsen. The subsequent trial resulted in an additional prison sentence of three and a half years, added to his existing seven-year sentence for a previous armed robbery. Furthermore, his prison conditions were significantly tightened. He was transferred to the East Jutland Prison's special high-security unit and placed in isolation under a strict regime. There, his cell was furnished with items bolted to the walls to prevent the creation of new escape tools, and he was subjected to frequent cell changes to counteract any escape preparations.

At the same time, the escape from Vridsløselille once again exposed vulnerabilities in the Prison and Probation Service's system, as it emerged that Larsen's restrictions had been eased prior to the escape in a misguided hope of rehabilitation.

Brian Bo Larsen in media: Punishment vs rehabilitation

Brian Bo Larsen's story is more than just a tale of crime and prison escapes; it has also become part of a larger public conversation in Denmark. His participation in the DR program 'Restaurant Behind Bars' in 2012, where he and other inmates learned to cook gourmet food, made him a well-known figure and sparked debate about the media's role and the portrayal of criminals – a topic often touched upon in journalism.

Although his actions were unequivocally criminal, his story and personality contributed to an ongoing discussion about the causes of crime, the possibility of reform, and the difficult balance between punishment, security, and rehabilitation in the Danish justice system. His case remains a striking example of a lifelong struggle against the system and a reminder of the complex challenges faced by the Prison and Probation Service.

Fascinated by escape artists and daring heists? Follow KrimiNyt for more in-depth true crime cases.