Surat: A daring daylight robbery shook the Bank of Maharashtra in Sachin's Vanj village as five assailants, riding on two motorcycles and clad in helmets, stormed the bank, holding employees hostage at gunpoint, and decamped with more than 13 lakhs.
Shortly after the bank's opening hours, the robbers swiftly executed their plan, neutralizing mobile communications by forcibly switching off everyone's phones and subsequently locking both customers and staff in the restroom. The entire heist, captured on CCTV, has provided the police with crucial leads in the investigation.
Local residents have drawn parallels with a previous robbery at the Zilla Sahakari Bank in Surat district, pointing to a potentially similar modus operandi.
The bank manager, recounting the traumatic experience, said, "The masked youths swiftly incapacitated us. They threatened everyone, inducing a state of fear. They then proceeded to loot over 13 lakhs from the cash counter."
In response to the robbery, a heightened security measure has been implemented across Surat. DCP K.N. Damor confirmed the incident's timeline and stated, "The robbery took place at around 11:30 am. Out of the five criminals, four wore helmets while one donned a burkha." In a swift reaction, a red alert has been sounded across Surat city and district, and roadblocks have been set up. Intensified vehicle checks are underway, and dedicated CCTV and surveillance teams are working round the clock, aiming to bring the culprits to justice swiftly.
