Italy crime: Gang rips open security van with diggers near Bari

[Duty]

Italian police are hunting for robbers who stole €2.3m (£2m; $2.6m) after trapping and ripping open a security van on a highway in the far south.

The gang of four blocked off the van with two lorries on State Highway 96 near Bari, then fired into the air to intimidate the guards, local media say.

Two mechanical diggers were used like can openers to prise open the back of the vehicle and get at the cash.

The three guards in the van were not hurt but were said to be in shock.

BBC news

Woah, that must have been terrifying, especially for anybody in the back. No wonder they're in shock. 

[onlinebiker]

When backhoes are outlawed - only outlaws will have backhoes.

[FlyingNarwhal]

This is almost like that movie The Italian Job, but instead of being super smooth, using deception and mini coopers, they just decided to fire off guns and rip a van apart with a backhoe. Almost...

[LastPoet]

There was an attempt that failed in Portugal few years ago. Guy was probably a dumbass working with a digger. Those things are bigass spiders.

[Jackalope]

Kind of reminds me of the armored car heist in 'Heat'. Minus the explosives, of course. The guards didn't fare quite as well in that.

[LastPoet]

I have worked with a spider. Climb a steep hill? no problem, ise the dig arm to pull you up.

[Peebothuhlu]

Wonder how long till it's a Vin Deisel or Ben Afflek movie?

[Duty]

If the guards or their manager were in on it that'd be an interesting plot twist