The bank job: Robbers loot Rs270,000 in second bank heist of the year
Police officials suspect the involvement of the security guards and a cashier in the heist.
Shutters are drawn on the bank which was robbed on Monday. PHOTO: ONLINE
KARACHI:
At least three armed robbers succeeded in looting around Rs270,000 from a branch of Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank at Gole Market, Nazimabad, on Monday.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:40am when three dacoits entered the branch and held the staffers and the three security guards hostage at gunpoint. They looted Rs270,000 from the cash counter and escaped.
Police officials suspect the involvement of the security guards and a cashier in the heist. “We are certain the guards and at least one of the cashiers helped the robbers,” claimed SHO Ejaz Lodhi, while talking to The Express Tribune. “They are even not approaching the police to register an FIR.”
Police have started investigating the incident following leads from the footage recorded by the bank’s CCTV system. “It is apparent from the footage that the guards offered no resistance even though they were armed,” the officer said.
“Even the cashier provided them the cash himself.” SHO Lodhi said that the police have not detained the security guards or the cashier, but they will be questioned after the initial course of investigation. No case was registered till the filing of this story.
This was the second bank heist in the first 20 days of the new year. Earlier, two private security guards had lost their lives in robbery bid in Korangi’s K Area on January 7. The robbers had managed to escape with Rs1.6 million from United Bank Limited’s Korangi branch on that occasion.
In 2013, at least 29 banks were robbed by dacoits. In most of the robberies, members of banned outfits were found to be involved. Police investigators have been able to successfully probe a few of the cases while the remaining cases have yet to be solved.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2014.
At least three armed robbers succeeded in looting around Rs270,000 from a branch of Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank at Gole Market, Nazimabad, on Monday.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:40am when three dacoits entered the branch and held the staffers and the three security guards hostage at gunpoint. They looted Rs270,000 from the cash counter and escaped.
Police officials suspect the involvement of the security guards and a cashier in the heist. “We are certain the guards and at least one of the cashiers helped the robbers,” claimed SHO Ejaz Lodhi, while talking to The Express Tribune. “They are even not approaching the police to register an FIR.”
Police have started investigating the incident following leads from the footage recorded by the bank’s CCTV system. “It is apparent from the footage that the guards offered no resistance even though they were armed,” the officer said.
“Even the cashier provided them the cash himself.” SHO Lodhi said that the police have not detained the security guards or the cashier, but they will be questioned after the initial course of investigation. No case was registered till the filing of this story.
This was the second bank heist in the first 20 days of the new year. Earlier, two private security guards had lost their lives in robbery bid in Korangi’s K Area on January 7. The robbers had managed to escape with Rs1.6 million from United Bank Limited’s Korangi branch on that occasion.
In 2013, at least 29 banks were robbed by dacoits. In most of the robberies, members of banned outfits were found to be involved. Police investigators have been able to successfully probe a few of the cases while the remaining cases have yet to be solved.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2014.