Thieves broke into the rural bank in Angampitiya, Wennappuwa broke into the safe and stole the gold items taken as mortgages worth over 6 crore rupees. (Sri Lanka Latest News)
The theft took place after the bank was closed at 1.45 pm on the 27th and the robbery was discovered when the bank reopened at 8.30 am yesterday (30), according to the complaint made by the manager to the Wennappuwa police.
The police say that this rural bank is located in the village far from the city. It has been observed by the police that only three employees including the manager are working here.
The investigation has revealed that this theft was planned to target the long weekend holiday. The police say that the thief or thieves entered the Gramiya Bank by opening the lid of a small window and cutting the iron grill with a grinder. Police believe the theft was most likely the work of a single person.
The safe is also cut with a grinder. 08 worn blades were also found on the ground. Police believe the thief most likely used a grinder that uses rechargeable batteries. Since last year, many post offices across the country have been broken into and money and stamps were stolen in this manner.
Police say that the safe in this rural bank has 26 chambers and 7 chambers have been cut. Gold articles worth more than 06 crore rupees were found in that chamber. If the rest of the chamber was also cut and the gold items there were stolen, the amount of stolen gold items could have increased by two or three times.
The police say that after carrying out the theft, the thieves fled away with the security camera system of the rural bank. The police say that several police teams are investigating the theft.
