BY MWANAHABARI REPORTER
There are thieves – and then there are daredevils.
Robbing a bank is not a cake walk, especially with technological developments. It’s unheard off these days… even in Kenya where bank break-ins were common occurrences in 1980s, and early 1990s.
Not any more.
But then there are those who still find a way to sneak into bank, and cart a way tons of money, without raising an eyebrow.
Like what happened in November 2017 when a group of young men allegedly dug a tunnel from a cross a street right into KCB bank in Thika Town.
The suspects reportedly took away Ksh 50 million in a criminal mastermind that you will only see in a movie.
The theft has been compared to the infamous Brazil bank heist that left the world scratching its head wondering just how one could dig a tunnel into a bank.
A bank employee identified as Samuel Nganga told police that he walked into the bank and upon opening the vault around 8:30 am, found that money from two safes was missing.
In a statement, police said they received the information following a report by the bank manager.
“They broke into two safes…it is believed they used oxy-acetylene flames to drill holes into them,” police later said.
How they did it.
According to the police, the criminals dug the tunnel near a sewer line.
To execute the plan, the suspects rented a shop located near the bank, and would spend six months digging the tunnel and executing the plan.
The shop which ran a bookshop was – interestingly – right opposite the Thika divisional police headquarters.
The young men were stocking soil from the tunnel in one of the stalls and packing cartons of books on top to conceal their activity.
The tunnel went straight into the bank vault.
According to the police, three suspects, all said to be cousins were arrested in connection with the theft, and were presented in court.
They denied the charges.