Five armed and hooded robbers yesterday cleared out the vault of the HSBC Balzan branch, making off with what is believed to be close to EUR1 million. If the figure is correct, it will be the largest ever sum of cash stolen in Malta in an armed robbery.

In a statement, the police said the robbery took place at about noon when five masked and armed men burst into the Triq Bertu Fenech branch and demanded to be led to the bank’s vault. One of the men trained a firearm on the people inside the bank at the time while the other four headed into the vault and stole the cash. It is understood that the men stole euro and Maltese lira notes.

The bank is monitored by security cameras and there is another camera across the square, where the bank is located. There is also a police station just over the road, but it was closed at the time that the robbery was committed. No one was injured and the robbers made off in a getaway vehicle that was parked close to the bank.

Eyewitnesses also reported that a white van was left in the middle of the street while the robbery took place so as to block off any traffic. Once finished the robbers ran to another vehicle to make their escape, however it had not been found by the time this newspaper went to print.

The police were alerted and members of the Mobile Squad and District Police started a search after arriving at the scene within minutes.

Duty magistrate Doreen Clarke appointed a number of experts to assist in an on-site inquiry.

In a short statement, HSBC said no customers or employees were injured during the incident, but it did not disclose the amount of money stolen. The bank is offering a reward of Lm25,000 (EUR58,234.33) for information given to the police leading to the arrest and arraignment of the robbers.

Meanwhile, the General Workers’ Union expressed its solidarity with the employees of the branch. The union said that apart from the material damage, such incidents also created unnecessary tension and stress among the workforce.