Residents of Chita reported a daring burglary that left a heavy, money-filled safe abandoned after a damaged car incident. The report, provided by MIA Media, chronicles an audacious theft that unfolded late at night in the village of Urulga, located in the Trans-Baikal Territory, at the close of October of the previous year.
Two men managed to burgle a bank branch by forcing open office doors, severing wiring, and deactivating the bank’s alarm system. With the interior temporarily compromised, they pulled the 300-kilogram safe into the street, intending to load it onto a vehicle and transport it away. The fiasco of their plan began when they attempted to operate a used foreign car they had recently purchased but did not officially register for private use. The car had been prepared for a quick getaway, yet the theft quickly took an unexpected turn.
As one thief drove the car to the entrance of the building, a misstep caused him to collide with the curb, damaging the vehicle’s chassis. The impact scattered the criminals’ plans, forcing them to abandon the pursuit and flee the scene, leaving behind the unusable car and the heavy, loot-filled safe. The immediate aftermath left authorities with a volatile puzzle and a stolen cache of bank cards and cash that disappeared along with the attackers.
Law enforcement acted swiftly: two suspects, born in 1991 and 1996, were identified and detained. A criminal case was opened under Part 3 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and investigators moved to secure the individuals for questioning and further proceedings. This development marks a significant step in tracing the stolen funds and assets connected to the incident. The effort underscores the persistent risk to financial institutions and communities when server rooms and teller counters are compromised, and how quickly a carefully planned heist can devolve into a desperate escape that leaves substantial evidence in the open.
Context from prior reporting notes that criminal activity sometimes intertwines with seemingly ordinary tasks, such as attempting to catch a train after a car theft in Karelia, illustrating how vehicle theft and property crimes can cross regional lines and create complex investigative challenges. The Urulga case reinforces the importance of rapid response, diligent forensics, and coordinated police work to recover stolen property and hold offenders accountable. The evolving situation continues to be followed by local and regional media, with updates provided as investigations proceed and more details become available. [MIA Media attribution]