4 Jan 2011

Thieves tunnel into Buenos Aires bank vault

8:30 pm on 4 January 2011

Thieves in Argentina have made off with about 100 safety deposit boxes after tunnelling into a bank vault from an adjoining property.

The robbery was only detected when bank employees returned to work after the New Year weekend, the ABC reports.

The thieves entered and exited the Banco Provincia bank in Buenos Aires through a 30-metre tunnel that began in an adjoining property.

It is thought they rented the building six months ago to build the tunnel, which was fitted with lighting and ventilation.

Bank officials will not release details of what was stolen because the contents of safety deposit boxes are confidential.

Hundreds of angry clients have descended on the bank to demand information about their possessions.