Bank heist: Security guard, friends ‘loot’ bank at night

Guard robs almost Rs6.5 million and manages to flee

A private security guard posted at a commercial bank in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), aided by his accomplices, allegedly robbed the bank of millions of rupees and other valuables deposited by customers in the vaults. The guard himself informed the security firm about the burglary.

The robbers broke into the bank's safe located on the ground floor using gas cutters and stole Rs6.5 million, including foreign currency. The robbers also took away jewellery, prize bonds, important documents and other valuables from the bank's vaults on the first floor. Using gas cutters again, they broke into a total of 32 lockers, of which 10 contained valuables.

The incident took place on Monday night and the police received a complaint about the incident at 7:30am. South SSP Pir Muhammad Shah, South Investigation SP Tariq Dharejo along with other police officials reached the branch in B Market, Phase 1 where they gathered evidence and began investigations. The special investigation unit (SIU) also reached the site and began their investigations. The branch falls under the jurisdiction of Defence Police station near Korangi Road.

 

PHOTO: EXPRESS

According to South SSP, the security guard, Manzoor Mastoong, is associated with a security firm and had been serving at the same company for the last five years. Mastoong was covering the night shift for the bank for the last six months and had served the same bank for a year about one and a half years. There is a greater amount of money present in the banks on Mondays and Tuesdays and that is why, after gathering information, Mastoong and his accomplices carried out the burglary on Tuesday, South SSP added. Further information about him is being collected from the owner of the security company and the accused's supervisor.

Three bank robbers busted in Karachi

PHOTO: EXPRESS

 

After committing the theft, the guard himself informed his security company about the incident, said the South SSP, adding that since then, his mobile phone has been powered off.

The guard's accomplices entered the bank from the back and escaped from the same place after committing the crime. The bank did not have a security system or alarms on as security guards are stationed at the bank at night. The accused also disabled the CCTV cameras installed in the bank. Initial investigation suggests that three people were involved in the robbery. The police are trying to acquire the CCTV camera footages from other cameras installed nearby and are working to identify the citizens whose lockers were broken into.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2019.