bad_meetz_evil
02-23-2006, 10:14 AM
A massive police search is underway for an armed gang who stole up to £40m in cash in what is thought to be the UK's biggest ever cash robbery.
The Bank of England said at least £25m had been stolen from a security depot in Kent, but it is thought the figure could be as high as £40m.
The robbery, at the Securitas cash depot in Tonbridge, happened at about 2.15am on Wednesday.
The gang, posing as police, abducted the depot manager and his wife and son, who they threatened to harm unless he helped them.
Police said the drama started when the manager was pulled over while driving near Stockbury, Maidstone, the evening before.
A man wearing a high-visibility jacket and "police-style" hat got out of what he believed was an unmarked police vehicle, and spoke to him.
He accompanied the fake officer back to the car where he was handcuffed.
Meanwhile, two more bogus policemen visited the manager's wife and young son at their home in Herne Bay and took them away.
At this time, the manager was threatened with a gun and told to "cooperate or his family would be at risk".
At about 1am he was taken to the Vale Road security depot where at least six men, some masked and armed with handguns, tied up the 15 staff.
The gang loaded the cash into a white lorry before driving off at about 2.15am.
Police were alerted about an hour later when the shocked but uninjured staff activated an alarm.
The manager, his wife and son - who had been taken to an undisclosed location - were also unhurt.
Detectives said it was "clearly a robbery that was planned in detail over time".
The Governor of the Bank of England has called for a review of security arrangements for storing banknotes following the raid.
The Bank of England said at least £25m had been stolen from a security depot in Kent, but it is thought the figure could be as high as £40m.
The robbery, at the Securitas cash depot in Tonbridge, happened at about 2.15am on Wednesday.
The gang, posing as police, abducted the depot manager and his wife and son, who they threatened to harm unless he helped them.
Police said the drama started when the manager was pulled over while driving near Stockbury, Maidstone, the evening before.
A man wearing a high-visibility jacket and "police-style" hat got out of what he believed was an unmarked police vehicle, and spoke to him.
He accompanied the fake officer back to the car where he was handcuffed.
Meanwhile, two more bogus policemen visited the manager's wife and young son at their home in Herne Bay and took them away.
At this time, the manager was threatened with a gun and told to "cooperate or his family would be at risk".
At about 1am he was taken to the Vale Road security depot where at least six men, some masked and armed with handguns, tied up the 15 staff.
The gang loaded the cash into a white lorry before driving off at about 2.15am.
Police were alerted about an hour later when the shocked but uninjured staff activated an alarm.
The manager, his wife and son - who had been taken to an undisclosed location - were also unhurt.
Detectives said it was "clearly a robbery that was planned in detail over time".
The Governor of the Bank of England has called for a review of security arrangements for storing banknotes following the raid.