Police in Rome reported that they are hunting a gang of robbers who attempted Banca Popolare di Novara, Local Italy said. The gang fled shortly before 16:00 local time on Sunday.
The five criminals broke into the branch of the local bank from an adjacent building, then they attacked and disarmed a security guard and holding staff hostage, said police. Fortunately, the robbery attempt failed due to an unexpected situation. The robbers’ plan was to ask the code to the vault from the bank’s director, but that exact day he was suddenly ill.
According to police, the five-men gang wore masks and wigs and carrying guns, they were dressed as building workers through a hole in the wall of an adjacent garage. Thanks to the attentive passers-by outside, the police was warned about the unusual activity, but policemen arrived just moments too late to catch the gang.
The criminals made their hasty exit, back through the same hole from which they had entered, however, the gangsters left some items of clothing behind which are being used in the search. A manhunt is now underway across Rome with the help of police helicopters
None of the staff and customers of Banca Popolare di Novara was injured in the robbery, said local media and added that this is the second reported armed bank robbery attempt in Rome this month. Two weeks ago, two men were arrested after a failed robbery attempt at a branch of Monte dei Paschi di Siena in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Vatican called a meeting of experts in Rome to discuss new developments in the search for the stolen Nativity with San Lorenzo and San Francesco, a priceless Caravaggio painting stolen from a Palermo church 49 years ago.
