TORONTO – George Clooney and the Ocean's 11 crew, they are not.
But a group of five men who tried to pull off a "sophisticated" bank heist in Burlington, Ont., using heavy-duty power tools and repelling gear nearly got away with what Halton Regional Police said was a "significant amount" of cash, coins and jewels.
"I've done most of my career in investigations and it's certainly one of the first I've seen like this" said Det. Sgt. Jeff Hill, recounting details of the elaborate robbery attempt.
Officers arrested the five men in connection to the incident around 1 a.m. Monday. Police were called to a TD-Canada Trust branch. But when they arrived, they found that the bank's doors were locked and nothing appeared amiss.
But as per regulation, they formed a perimeter and began to search with the canine unit. A short distance away, they discovered two of the five suspects hiding in a line of trees with the loot.
"They were just laying down and hoping to remain unseen," Hill said.
Police allege the men entered a business adjacent to the bank and covered the windows to make it appear as though it was under renovation. They then proceeded to cut through the wall, enter the bank's ceiling and cut into the vault from above.
