German prisons just aren't what they used to be.

[Dinner]

An inmate in a German prison escaped by hiding in a box which he mailed home. Damn, that must have been a big box.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7730018.stm

[MarkG]

that's nothing, a guy escaped from a greek jail in a helicopter

they caught him 2 years later though...

[MarkG]

04 Jun 06
Two flee Greek jail in helicopter

Two prisoners have escaped in a helicopter from a high security jail in the Greek capital, Athens.

A Greek and an Albanian national escaped in a helicopter that landed on the roof of the Korydallos prison.

The Greek man was named as Vassilis Paleokostas, who was convicted of kidnapping and bank robbery in 1999.

Police believe his brother Nikos - who is on the run - may have organised the escape. The inmates flew to a nearby cemetery and fled on motorbikes.

The incident happened at 1820 local time (1520 GMT), police said.

Vassilis Pakeokostas, 40, was serving a 25-year sentence.

The Albanian national, 32-year-old Alket Rizai, was serving a life sentence for manslaughter since his conviction in 2003.

Police believe the two inmates were helped by Nikos Paleokostas and another unidentified accomplice. A manhunt is under way for all four.

Police said they arrested the helicopter pilot, who said he had been forced to carry out the mission at gunpoint.

Korydallos is Greece's largest prison, housing more than 2,000 inmates, including foreign criminals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5046986.stm

21 Aug 2008
Greek helicopter fugitive caught

Police in Greece have re-arrested the country's most wanted fugitive, two years after he escaped from a high-security prison by helicopter.

Vassilis Paleokostas, 44, was serving a 25-year prison term for robbery and kidnap when he was whisked from an Athens prison in 2006 by accomplices.

Police say they believe he is behind the kidnap of northern Greek industrialist George Mylonas in June.

Mr Mylonas's wife said she was relieved Paleokostas had been caught.

"It's a kind of vindication for us to know who this man was," Nelly Mylonas told Greek television on news of Paleokostas' arrest.

Mr Mylonas - who was kidnapped at gunpoint outside his home - was released in June, after his family paid a ransom.

His kidnap helped police find Paleokostas, as they were able to trace the marked ransom money paid back to him. Three other men suspected in involvement in his kidnapping were also arrested.

Paleokostas is the brother of Nikos Paleokostas who has been convicted of 16 bank robberies, among other crimes.

He was considered the country's most wanted fugitive until his arrest two years ago

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7574753.stm