Bangladeshi man trapped in Milan bank vault for nine hours during failed robbery

The 24-year-old was arrested after allegedly attempting to break into safety deposit boxes at a UniCredit branch

UniCredit bank logo is pictured in Rome, Italy, November 25, 2024. REUTERS

A 24-year-old Bangladeshi man has been arrested in Italy's Milan after spending nine hours trapped inside a bank vault during a failed robbery attempt, Euronews reports.

According to Italian police, the man entered a UniCredit branch on Viale Certosa during normal business hours on Thursday evening and made his way to the vault area, where safety deposit boxes are stored.

Private security personnel spotted him on surveillance cameras around 9pm local time as he allegedly attempted to break into the deposit boxes, according to the report.

Police were unable to reach him immediately because the vault keys were locked inside a time-delay safe that could not be opened until 8am the next morning.

Firefighters worked for hours to break open the safe and retrieve the keys. The man was eventually removed from the vault at around 5am local time on Friday and was reported to be in good health. Local reports said the vault was equipped with a ventilation system.

He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted aggravated theft.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to determine how he accessed the vault area without being detected earlier. Initial findings indicate he entered the bank during regular opening hours.

UniCredit confirmed the attempted break-in in a statement, saying its alarm systems functioned properly and staff immediately alerted emergency services. The bank added that security procedures ensured both the protection of stored assets and the safety of the intruder.

The man remains in police custody.