--- title: Special Forces Stops Theives From Robbing French McDonald's description: Two men who attempted to rob a McDonald's in Eastern France were apprehended by the an off-duty French special forces unit. canonical: https://time.com/4363281/mcdonalds-france-special-forces-robbery/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-06-09T21:02:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:33:13.720Z og:title: Special Forces Unit Stops Hamburglars From Robbing French McDonald's og:description: An eventful lunch break og:url: https://time.com/4363281/mcdonalds-france-special-forces-robbery/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3dd1958ea99be84/69889732f887dc0d1fe96359/mcdonalds-france-hamburglars.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Champs Elysees McDonald's Reopens In Paris og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Special Forces Unit Stops Hamburglars From Robbing French McDonald's twitter:description: An eventful lunch break twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3dd1958ea99be84/69889732f887dc0d1fe96359/mcdonalds-france-hamburglars.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Special Forces Unit Stops Would-Be Hamburglars From Robbing a French McDonald's  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Jun 9, 2016 9:02 PM UTC  PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 22: The largest McDonald's in the world reopens on the Champs-Elysees following extensive refurbishment. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images) PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 22: The largest McDonald's in the world reopens on the Champs-Elysees following extensive refurbishment. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)Chesnot—Getty Images  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Jun 9, 2016 9:02 PM UTC In a twist of events straight out of a [McDonald’s](http://time.com/4192469/mcdonalds-earnings-all-day-breakfast-mcd/) campaign, two men who attempted to rob a McDonald’s in Eastern France were [foiled by a special forces unit.](http://www.connexionfrance.com/france-mcdonalds-fast-food-restaurant-criminal-armed-robbers-raid-elite-police-off-duty-18132-view-article.html) According to the[ _Connexion_](http://www.connexionfrance.com/france-mcdonalds-fast-food-restaurant-criminal-armed-robbers-raid-elite-police-off-duty-18132-view-article.html), the armed robbers (or [hamburglars](http://time.com/3849171/mcdonalds-hamburglar-new/), if you will) were apprehended by the _Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale_, a unit similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs, who happened to be eating lunch during the robbery. The unit waited until the robbery was finished, then confronted the robbers outside, opening fire when the men refused to surrender. One of the thieves was shot in the stomach, while the other was seriously injured when he fell down the stairs during the pursuit. 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