The Incredible Bank Robbery: How Thieves Stole Millions Without a Trace

🏦The thieves staged a fake bank robbery upstairs to distract police while they emptied the safe deposit boxes in the basement.

🔒Argentinians distrusted banks and relied on safe deposit boxes to protect their valuables.

🚧The robbers dug a tunnel from nearby storm drains to access the bank's basement without triggering the alarm.

🍕The thieves ordered pizza for the hostages and left behind a note that baffled the nation.

🃏The robbers used toy guns and disguises to carry out the heist, leaving police searching for real weapons.

Did the thieves ever get caught?

—Yes, they were eventually caught when one of the robbers bragged about the heist to his wife.

How did the robbers escape without being noticed?

—They escaped through a hidden tunnel in the basement that connected to nearby storm drains.

What did they steal from the bank?

—The thieves emptied over 100 safe deposit boxes, stealing cash, jewelry, and other valuable items.

What was the nation's reaction to the heist?

—Many Argentinians saw the thieves as folk heroes, as they stole from the rich without causing harm.

Were all the stolen items recovered?

—Some of the stolen items were recovered, but many were never found.

00:00In 2006, Banco Rio in Argentina was robbed in what became known as the 'robbery of the century.'

06:21The mastermind behind the heist was Fernando Araujo, who came up with the idea to use a hidden tunnel.

10:59The thieves staged a fake bank robbery upstairs to distract police while they emptied the safe deposit boxes in the basement.

12:53The robbers escaped through a hidden tunnel in the basement that connected to nearby storm drains.

14:13The thieves got away with millions of dollars worth of cash, jewelry, and other valuables.

15:03The robbers were eventually caught after one of them bragged about the heist to his wife.