Story highlights
Bank thieves tunnel into vault of a state-run bank
Burglars escaped with cash, other valuables believed to be worth thousands of dollars
100-foot long tunnel started under nearby house
In an incident that seems to be inspired by the Bollywood blockbuster movie series “Dhoom,” burglars dug a tunnel measuring at least 100 feet long into the vault of a state-run bank in northern India over the weekend, leaving local authorities, bank employees and account holders stunned.
The daring theft was discovered Monday morning when the bank, which is located in the Sonipat district of Haryana state, opened, Police Superintendent (SP) Arun Nehra told CNN.
The burglary was meticulously planned and executed, with the tunnel dug from an unoccupied, nearby house extending to the bank and breaking the concrete floor of the vault.
The region’s deputy SP said that the burglars had been digging the tunnel for at least two days, and they believe that professionals aided them.
This kind of burglary is very rare, he added.
The culprits fled with cash, jewelery and other valuables believed to be worth thousands of dollars, he said. All that was left in the vault were broken lockers and the remnants of the destroyed flooring.
Authorities have not ruled out involvement of someone who had inside knowledge of the bank, although no suspects have been named so far. A special team has been set up to catch the culprits.