In San Isidro, Argentina, a city known for its storied criminal history, authorities have thwarted a daring attempt to replicate the infamous 2006 “heist of the century.” This latest incident was foiled by an unexpected and unusual obstacle—a metal rod that emerged from a cobblestone street, which led to the discovery of an elaborate tunnel system designed for a major heist.
On Wednesday, a local resident noticed a strange noise emanating from beneath the chassis of his parked car. Upon investigating, it was discovered that a metal rod had surfaced through the street’s cobblestones. The resident immediately contacted the police, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
Upon arrival, officers conducted an excavation at the site, located about 220 meters from a branch of Macro Bank. Their search revealed an extensively constructed tunnel leading from a nearby warehouse to nearly the bank’s entrance. The tunnel, which had been under construction for six to nine months, was lined with wooden planks and equipped with ventilation and electric lighting. The sophistication of the tunnel’s design has been compared to the elaborate escape route used by drug lord El Chapo Guzman in his 2015 prison break.
Despite the impressive engineering feat, police have yet to apprehend the would-be robbers. The tunnel’s discovery brought back memories of the “heist of the century,” a 2006 robbery in San Isidro that involved meticulous planning and resulted in the theft of nearly $19 million from a bank. The original robbers had left behind toy weapons and a note stating, “In a neighbourhood of rich people, with no weapons or grudges, it’s just money.”
The thwarted heist demonstrates both the continued ambition of criminal elements and the effective vigilance of local law enforcement in preventing such high-profile crimes.
