Armed bank robbery in Pando: four robbers flee with money in three currencies
Four armed men robbed the Banco República branch in Pando and fled with pesos, dollars and euros. A security guard was injured and the perpetrators stole a van to escape.
Four armed robbers raid BROU in Pando and leave security guard injured
Four men robbed a branch of Banco República Oriental del Uruguay (BROU) on Monday at around 17:50, located at the corner of General Artigas and Solís in the town of Pando. According to elobservador.com.uy, the perpetrators made off with "a significant sum of money in national currency, US dollars and euros" and left a security guard with a head injury.
The Canelones Police Authority confirmed the facts in a statement and announced that an investigation is ongoing.
The operation inside the bank
One of the four robbers entered the bank branch with his face uncovered; the other three wore masks and carried firearms. Once inside, they overpowered staff and customers, and subdued the security guards. One of the guards was physically assaulted, suffering a cut wound to the head, later diagnosed as an occipital contusion. Both guards had two .38 calibre revolvers and their ammunition taken from them.
After neutralising resistance, the four men gained access to the cash section and took money in the three currencies mentioned. They then left the premises and escaped in a high-end black automobile at high speed.
The injured guard was treated on site by an emergency medical unit.
The escape and second robbery
Simultaneously with the robbery, operational units deployed a surveillance operation supported by the CCTV system. The vehicle used in the getaway—a Mercedes Benz automobile—was located shortly afterwards abandoned in a ditch at kilometre 32.500 of Route 101, at the intersection with Eudoro Melo Road, in the Barros Blancos area.
However, the perpetrators did not halt their escape: on the same road they intercepted a driver, threatened him with firearms and seized his utility van to continue their flight. The driver was unharmed.
The investigation
Police personnel secured all scenes related to the incident, and forensic police officers carried out the corresponding forensic examination. The duty prosecutor was notified; witness statements were taken and the file was referred to the Investigation Section of Operational Zone II, which has been conducting the enquiry since then.
The Canelones Police Authority has not yet reported any arrests or the identity of the perpetrators.
Source: Google News UY — Crime