Bengaluru armed gang pulls off Rs 7.11-crore daylight heist; police on high alert
Bengaluru: In a shocking incident in the heart of the city, a gang of armed men looted Rs 7.11 crore in broad daylight on Tuesday after intercepting a cash-loading vehicle headed to an ATM near South End Circle.
The audacious heist took place around noon when the gang, travelling in an Innova, blocked the CMS cash van near Jayadeva Dairy Circle and escaped with the money after threatening the staff.
According to police sources, the cash van (registration GJ 01 HT 9173) was on its way to replenish an ATM near South End Circle when six to seven men arrived in an Innova and identified themselves as RBI officials. The gang allegedly intimidated the van staff, including the gunman, and forced them out of the vehicle before taking control of the van along with its driver.
The accused then drove the van up to the Dairy Circle flyover, where they transferred all the cash into their Innova and fled the spot. Suddaguntepalya Police reached the location soon after and began an inspection.
Preliminary inquiries have revealed that the gang used a fake number plate on their vehicle. The Innova carried the registration number KA 03 NC 8052—later found to belong to a Maruti Suzuki, indicating deliberate planning by the thieves. “This was a well-coordinated operation. The use of a fake number plate shows the gang came fully prepared,” a senior officer said.
The cash van had four CMS staff members on board—a driver, two gunmen and one cash-loading employee. All four are being questioned at Siddapura Police Station to reconstruct the sequence of events. Fingerprint experts and a dog squad have also been deployed at the crime scene as part of an intensified investigation.
The gang is believed to have escaped towards Hosakote. CCTV trails indicate movement through Dairy Circle, Koramangala, Sony World Junction, Domlur, Marathahalli and Whitefield, before heading in the direction of Hosakote. Police teams have been dispatched along multiple routes to track down the vehicle and suspects.
With the stolen amount exceeding ₹7 crore, Bengaluru Police Commissioner has issued a citywide high-alert order. Border checkpoints have been fortified, and vehicle inspections at entry and exit points have been intensified to ensure the culprits do not flee the city.
The heist comes close on the heels of similar ATM-related robberies reported from Bidar and Kalaburagi, raising serious concerns about organised cash-van targeting in the state. Police say the investigation is progressing rapidly, and teams are confident of identifying the gang soon.
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