An attempted bank robbery in Brazil included aluminum foil suits that were not effective in preventing surveillance cameras from recording video of the perpetrators' illegal actions. The security system was able to pick up a visual of the metal suits, which resulted in the local police getting a phone call. Closed-circuit footage shows the men crawling near the bank's safe. However, the would-be thieves were alerted when the police cars pulled up and left their tools behind including a power drill.
The foiled bank heist took place on April 9, Saturday at a branch of Branco do Brasil in São Paulo, according to CNN. CCTV cameras connected to the surveillance office picked up every move of the men in tin suits. The bank's security team then called local law enforcement.
Police think that the men had one or two helpers who were working as lookouts and informed them when they noticed the squad cars driving towards the scene.
At least one suspect connected to the attempted theft was arrested during the weekend. Military police spokesman Major Christian Dimitri told CNN the man was captured in a nearby forest. He had a criminal record that included past robbery attempts.
This was not the first time a group of criminals used aluminum foil to rob banks. A different group was able to rob many ATMs in Rio de Janeiro using a tin cloak. The goal of the tool was to prevent the security system from being activated by picking up people's body heat and then triggering an alarm.
In related news, a postmaster of a village post office in the United Kingdom has closed shop after being accused for an armed robbery, according to The Independent. Jonathan Brenton was robbed at the post office a few weeks ago when a burglar used a knife to hold up the 34-year-old man in Kent.
Brenton claims that the security systems failed when he pushed the panic button, and that the company has refused to fix them.
The postmaster explains that he has made several complaints to Post Office Limited about being bullied but it has not taken any actions. Meanwhile, residents complain that they now have to make a 15-mile (24-kilometer) round-trip to get their mail since their village's post office is closed.