Thieves dig 2-ft tunnel to rob Philippine bank

No weapons or arms were used in this bank heist. What came into play were tools - used by the robbers to dig an underground tunnel to enter a branch of China Bank in Quezon City (QC) in the Philippines.

The 'tunnel bank robbery' has left the cops perplexed. Supt. Tomas Nuñez, QC Police-Station Five chief, was quoted as saying in a CNN Philippines report that they traced the entry point of the two-feet wide tunnel in Barangay Greater Fairview - a hundred meters away from the bank's Commonwealth branch. The robbers got access to the bank easily as they used the drainage system.

Tools like crowbars and metal-cutting saws were found by the cops. Robbers had left the equipment behind.

More than three robbers were able to get into the main vault, but were unable to destroy its main door, Nunez added. The robbers were quite aware about the interior of the bank.

"They knew where the alarm was placed because they shut it down. They took the recorder of the CCTV," the police told CNN Philippines.
Police have taken a CCTV recorder in its custody, but will not release a copy or disclose its content.

It is suspected that the heist might have been carried out over the weekend because the bank is open only on weekdays.

Interestingly, the guard on duty outside did not notice any suspicious activity.
Since the robbers executed their plan with clinical precision, the possibility of an insider involved in the job can't be ruled out.

It is still not clear how much money has been decamped. And China Bank is probing the amount lost. Security protocol in all the branches of the bank is under review.
The bank has apologized to the branch's clients, and advised them to go to other branches for their transactions, the CNN report adds.

Source: Khaleej Times