French police are hunting for the driver of a security van who has vanished along with the vehicle's contents – €11 million (£10 million) in cash.

The country's biggest cash robbery in recent years took place silently and without violence when Tony Musulin, 39, drove away from the branch of the Banque de France in central Lyons yesterday while his two colleagues were inside the building.

Police found the empty vehicle, which belongs to the Swedish security firm Loomis, two hours later parked neatly in a side street in a suburb of the city. Its satellite tracking system and telephone link had been switched off and its contents, about 40 large sacks of banknotes, were missing.

Police initially suspected that robbers may have taken the driver or members of his family hostage. However, they found signs that Mr Musulin had planned his heist carefully.

"We went to search this lad's home and were surprised to discover a flat that was almost unoccupied. It was cleaned up as if he had prepared his flight," Xavier Richaud, the Lyons prosecutor, said. "Of course we suspect the driver."

The suspect was unmarried and had no children, he said.

One of Mr Musulin's colleagues told Franci Info radio that he was "slightly odd, always griping and complaining" about being badly paid. "He said that sooner or later the bosses are going to pay for this," said the colleague, who was not named.

Mr Musulin, who had worked for Loomis for a decade, had recently emptied his bank accounts, police said. His picture was being distributed to frontiers and airports. Lyons is a short drive from Switzerland and the Italian and German frontiers are not far.

Police are trying to find out if Mr Musulin, who had no criminal record, had accomplices inside or outside the firm he worked for. "He had to move a heavy load of cash so it's likely others were involved," said a local police officer.

One of the puzzles is how he opened the doors and sophisticated security locks on the armoured van, because at least two employees are usually required for the procedure.

Loomis and the police would not say whether the notes were new or old or easily traceable or whether their containers had been protected by devices which stain them with indelible dye in the event of robbery.

The slick style of the non-violent robbery prompted admiration from radio comedians this morning. "Salut l'artiste!" was a common comment from readers on internet news sites.

Recent robberies of armoured vans in France have always been violent, with thieves sometimes using military weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades.

In September 2007, a dozen men with heavy weapons used explosives to hold up a van and steal €10 million. They were said to have had accomplices in the security firm. In August last year, three men forced an van guard to hand over €7 million by taking his family hostage.

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