A gang of armed men stormed a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Varachha, Surat, on Tuesday afternoon and made off with Rs 52 lakh, leaving staff and customers terrified. The robbery took place at the Lambe Hanuman area branch around 1 pm when the bank was operational with customers present.
How the Robbery Unfolded
According to police, five armed robbers entered the branch brandishing pistols and forced six bank employees and six customers into a corner. They seized their mobile phones and threw them aside to prevent any alarm. The gang then methodically emptied the cash reserves before fleeing. Of the Rs 52 lakh stolen, Rs 40 lakh belonged to a cash management company engaged by SBI, while Rs 12 lakh was the bank's own cash.
Security Lapses Exposed
Preliminary investigations revealed glaring security lapses. There was no security guard at the branch during the robbery. The robbers had cut the wire of the emergency siren, ensuring no alert could be raised. The branch had six employees, including three contract workers. Police suspect more people may have been involved, as not all suspects were captured on CCTV cameras.
Police Response
Senior officers, including Additional Commissioners of Police Balram Meena and Karanraj Vaghela, reached the spot soon after the incident. Multiple teams have been formed to track the accused, who are believed to have escaped on motorcycles. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP Zone 1) Alok Kumar said, "The incident took place in the SBI branch in the Lambe Hanuman area of Varachha. Around five robbers entered the bank and took Rs 52 lakh in cash. We learned that the robbers spoke in Hindi and had pistols. We are investigating based on CCTV footage and have formed multiple teams from Varachha, Zone 1, and the detection of crime branch."
Inside the Heist
The robbers appeared calculated and calm, ensuring the heist unfolded without violence. They remained inside the bank for about 50 minutes, entering around 1 pm and leaving around 2 pm. Ironically, a van of the cash management company was parked outside the branch with a gunman inside, but he remained unaware of the robbery unfolding just metres away.
