Motorcyclists rob armored truck workers of 100M won

Close to 100 million won ($87,070) in cash was stolen from employees operating an armored truck yesterday in southern Seoul.

Two robbers on a motorbike snatched a money bag from the hands of an employee who was getting ready to fill an ATM machine with cash in front of the Gyeongbu line waiting area at Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Jamwon-dong, southern Seoul, yesterday morning, police said.

“Every morning, we come here to fill this ATM with cash,” the driver of the armored truck said. “Two of our security officers were each holding a cash bag - one bag with 97 million won and the other with 40 million won. The bag with 97 million won was snatched.”

The two security officers parked the truck and were walking toward the ATM machine when the robbers on a black motorbike came from behind and grabbed the bag.

Police believe the culprits are in their 20s or 30s. One thief was wearing a black helmet and black clothes while the other wore black clothing and a mask.

Police are searching for the thieves based on statements of witnesses and the armored truck employees. They plan to analyze the CCTV footage that was taken during the robbery. They suspect that the crime might have been committed by someone who had access to the security company which operates the armored truck, because the culprits took the bag with the most money and apparently knew the exact time the vehicle would arrive.

In August, a man identified as Ahn, 36, confessed to driving off with an armored truck in July with 450 million won inside. Ahn got into a car accident after stealing the truck.

By Cho Jae-eun [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]