Feb 9 • 17:04 UTC 🇬🇷 Greece To Vima

Italy: Armed Men with Fake Police Cars Blown Up Armored Van

A dramatic robbery in Italy involved armed robbers impersonating police officers, blocking a highway, and blowing up an armored vehicle, before engaging in a shootout with police.

In a cinematic heist that unfolded on National Highway 613 in the Apulia region of Italy, armed robbers posed as police officers to execute a high-stakes robbery involving an armored vehicle. The incident shocked drivers as masked men, wielding Kalashnikov rifles, brandished a fake police car and caused chaos on the highway by triggering explosives to break open the armored door of the truck. Even though the vehicle was targeted, the robbery was thwarted, and no money was taken, despite the seemingly well-planned assault.

The armored truck belonged to Battistolli, a company renowned for cash transport services throughout Italy, highlighting the risks faced by such ventures in the region. The robbers attempted to gain access to the cash compartment of the truck while keeping fake police car lights flashing, an effort demonstrating a mix of precision and audacity typical of organized crime in Italy. The involvement of weaponry like Kalashnikov rifles underlines the escalating severity of armed robbery attempts in the country.

The gang's failure to procure any money during this dramatic encounter with the Carabinieri raises questions about the safety and security measures in place for transport services. Moreover, the assailants' origins in Foggia, an area notorious for similar armed robberies, adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Italy. The ramifications of such brazen criminal activity are significant, potentially calling for enhanced law enforcement and public safety initiatives to combat the growing trend of armored vehicle heists.

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