In a thrilling and dangerous heist, Italian robbers pulled off a real-life version of the iconic film The Italian Job. On a motorway in southern Italy, masked thieves, armed with Kalashnikovs, held up an armoured truck, causing a dramatic explosion that sent smoke and debris into the sky. The audacious robbery took place on the 613 state road between Lecce and Brindisi in Puglia, just after dawn on a Monday morning.
Footage captured by motorists revealed at least six masked men, some dressed in white overalls, emerging from cars parked around the armoured van. The robbers, with firearms in hand, crouched behind vehicles as they approached the van, creating a scene that mirrored the iconic 1969 film. An explosion then ripped off the van's back doors and roof, sending debris into the air.
The robbers appeared to transfer the van's contents into a car. Some vehicles in the area had removable flashing lights, suggesting the bandits may have disguised themselves as police in unmarked cars. Photographs showed a red van in flames, belonging to a rental company called Over Rent, which had been stolen just a week prior.
The company's owner, Carlo Casafina, confirmed the theft and suspected the van was set on fire to block the motorway. Carabinieri, the Italian paramilitary force, pursued the robbers, with officers fired upon during the chase. A bullet-hole in a carabinieri car's windscreen near the driver's seat was a stark reminder of the danger faced by the police.
Despite the tense situation, no officers or civilians were injured, according to Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. A source from the Carabinieri union expressed relief that officers had not been harmed. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft, and the police operation is ongoing.
Puglia, the region where the heist took place, has seen a high number of attacks on armoured vehicles. According to the union for security guards, Savip, approximately €1.6 billion worth of valuables were stolen from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, a similar assault occurred just a few kilometres away, targeting a haul of €3 million.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting armoured vehicles in Italy, with the region ranking second among the country's 20 regions for the number of attacks.
