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Motorists recorded videos of the heist, showing armed men emerging from multiple vehicles parked near the armoured van. Several robbers brandished firearms and took cover behind cars as others approached the truck, triggering an explosion that sent smoke and debris into the air.
The men used explosives to gain access to the van’s contents before fleeing in a dramatic police pursuit.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2026 17:42 IST
A script that could give Spanish crime drama Money Heist a run for its money, with scenes that would remind seasoned moviegoers of the iconic 1969 film The Italian Job.
A brazen daylight robbery of an armoured vehicle and a dramatic chase that ended in a narrow escape from the police played out the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction.
Like the film The Italian Job, the heist bears uncanny similarities -- not because it took place in Italy, but because of how the events unfolded. That resemblance becomes clearer in a later scene.
The setting is in the picturesque coastal town of Puglia. At the break of dawn on Monday, six masked robbers -- some wearing white overalls and armed with automatic weapons -- circled an armoured truck on what appeared to be a highway in Italy’s Puglia.
The men used explosives to gain access to the van’s contents before fleeing in a dramatic police pursuit.
Motorists recorded videos of the heist, showing armed men emerging from multiple vehicles parked near the armoured van. Several robbers brandished firearms and took cover behind cars as others approached the truck, triggering an explosion that sent smoke and debris into the air -- an uncannily familiar scene reminiscent of The Italian Job.
The blast tore off the van’s rear doors and roof, allowing the perpetrators to quickly transfer its cargo into a waiting car. Some of the vehicles involved in the operation had removable flashing lights, raising suspicions that the group may have disguised themselves as police officers using unmarked cars.
The van’s owner said it had been stolen a week ago and believed it was set alight to block the motorway.
The local police pursued the suspects as they attempted to escape. During the chase, shots were fired at police.
A widely circulated image showed a patrol car with a bullet hole in its windscreen near the driver’s seat. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that there were no injuries among officers or civilians, calling it “a result that demonstrates professionalism, composure, operational effectiveness and absolute dedication to serving the institutions.”
Authorities arrested two individuals connected to the robbery. Italian media reported that the suspects, both from Foggia in Puglia, were apprehended after abandoning an Alfa Romeo and fleeing through a nearby field.
Local officials did not immediately confirm additional arrests but indicated the police operation remains ongoing. Another official reportedly described it as “a miracle” that no law enforcement personnel were hurt during the pursuit.
Puglia currently ranks second among all Italian regions for attacks targeting armoured vehicles. Data from Savip, the union for security guards, indicates that between 2019 and 2023, approximately €1.6 billion in valuables were stolen in such incidents.
A similar armed assault occurred in 2024 only a few kilometres from Monday’s heist, with robbers targeting a haul valued at Euro 3 million, highlighting the ongoing risks in the region.
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Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Feb 10, 2026
