1977 Krugersdorp bank robbery

On the weekend of 30 April 1977 – 1 May 1977 a bank robbery took place at the Standard Bank in Krugersdorp, South Africa. The robbers gained access to the bank vault by digging a tunnel underneath the building. Over R400 000 South African rand was stolen in the robbery. To this day, the case remains unsolved and no arrests were made.[1]

Modus Operandi

The empty shop from which the tunnel started was rented by Mr Nightingale. Nightingale’s reason for renting the shop was to utilise it as a photo studio. Investigation afterwards showed that it was a false name, and so was the residential address provided to the owner of the shop. The address was an address in Linden Johannesburg but the person staying there was cleared by the police as not involved. The windows of the shop were covered with newspaper.[2]

The robbery

The tunnel’s length was 35 metres (115 ft) and passed 4 shops. The shop was across the street from the bank. The bank was Standard bank. The soil taken out of the tunnel was emptied into bags (200 kg (440 lb) bags) They installed wooden poles to stabilise the tunnel. Inside the bank they made a hole in the brick wall and opened the safe using an oxyacetylene torch. Evidence was found that they prepared food while inside the safe. Compressors were being used by a shop close by and the bank turned off its trembler alarms for that reason. The robbers played music during the weekend. The robbery only became aware on Monday 2 May 1977 as the bank opened.[3]

Stolen goods

The robbers took, cash, travellers’ cheques and jewellery in safety deposit boxes.[4]

Investigations afterwards

Brigadier JF Roos from Pretoria was in charge of the investigation. Identikits of the robbers were drawn up by witnesses who said they saw the men on the weekend wearing blue overalls.[5]

Outcome

No verifiable leads, no arrests were made and no verifiable conclusion(s) were ever made. It remains unresolved.

References
  1. Mokati, N (18 May 2013). "A world of brazen heists executed by skilful rascals". Saturday Star. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  2. Viljoen, J (2 April 2018). "41 years ago this Easter, a Krugersdorp bank robbery shook the country". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  3. "Misdaad, polisiediens en regspleging (Translated: Crime, police and the Law)" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. Newspaper: The Citizen, 3 May 1977, page 2, Author: Epstein, D and Mcintyre, G
  5. Newspaper : The Rand Daily Mail, 3 May 1977, page 3, Author: Rees, M
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