A daring theft has shaken Haryana’s Hisar district after thieves broke into the Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank branch at Agroha and escaped with ₹27.92 lakh in cash.
According to police, the crime took place late Sunday night. The thieves cut through the back wall of the bank, created a narrow passage to the strong room, and then used a cutter to break open the safe. After taking the cash, they quietly exited the bank the same way they had entered.
The bank was closed on Saturday and Sunday due to holidays. When staff returned on Monday morning, they immediately noticed signs of a break-in and informed the bank manager. On reaching the spot, the manager found that the strong room had been accessed by cutting through the wall, not by breaking doors or locks.
The thieves also damaged the CCTV cameras, but one camera still managed to capture a masked and capped suspect entering the bank. Based on the footage and the nature of the operation, police believe five to six people may have been involved.
Agroha DSP Kishori Lal reached the spot after receiving the information and called in the dog squad from Sirsa, along with fingerprint experts. The team arrived around 3 pm and began a detailed investigation. CCTV footage from nearby houses and surrounding areas is also being examined.
Bank manager Ankit Kundu, a resident of Pabrada village, said the safe contained more than ₹28 lakh. Interestingly, the thieves left behind a bundle of ₹50,000, possibly because they could not reach it in time. The stolen cash included bundles of ₹500, ₹200, and ₹100 notes.
People living next to the bank are in shock. A family in the adjacent house said they heard nothing during the night. Residents explained that it was very foggy on Sunday night, and many had locked themselves inside and gone to sleep.
Some locals believe the thieves took advantage of nearby iron welding shops, where cutting and welding sounds are common. Because of this, neighbors may have ignored the sound of cutters, assuming it was routine work.
Bank staff revealed that the branch was earlier located on the village’s main road, where two robbery attempts took place in 2014. To improve safety, the bank was later shifted deeper into the village. Despite this, the thieves managed to execute a well-planned operation.
Police say the culprits spent five to six hours reaching the strong room and had brought extra batteries to run their cutting tools. Tyre marks found around the bank are also being examined to trace the vehicle used in the crime.
