Robbers break into Jalandhar bank, empty 40 lockers

In a daring and well-planned operation, robbers broke into the vaults of a branch of a state-run bank in this Punjab city and took away cash and jewellery from 40 lockers, police said Saturday.

The robbery inside the strong-room of the Punjab and Sind Bank came to light Saturday morning when the bank branch at Reru Chowk opened.

The branch neither had any guard nor any CCTV cameras for security, police said.

Police officials said that the robbers, who struck late Friday night, used gas-cutters to cut the main gate and the steel door of the strong-room.

There were 255 lockers out of which 40 were broken into and emptied. Locker owners in the branch flocked to the spot to know the fate of their valuables but they were not allowed near the bank due to the ongoing investigations.

"The actual loss has not been assessed. The owners of the lockers have been informed," said an official of the bank.

Senior police officers, including Police Commissioner Gaurav Yadav rushed to the spot.

"The robbers seemed to have been inside for several hours," a police officer said.

Police officials said investigations were covering all aspects, including involvement of bank insiders in the robbery. - IANS