Italy, Ocean’s Eleven-style robbery: Armed gang ambushes cash vans in Tuscany, escapes with millions
What looked like a Hollywood action scene unfolded in real life along Italy’s scenic coastal highway. On Friday, March 28, 2025, the usually quiet stretch of the Variante Aurelia near San Vincenzo, in the province of Livorno, turned into a battlefield. A group of at least ten heavily armed individuals ambushed two armored trucks carrying millions in pension payments. The attackers used explosives, automatic weapons, and a perfectly executed roadblock to carry out a military-grade operation.
The attack took place around 6:50 PM. The gang blocked the road using a truck positioned sideways, forcing the armored vans to stop. Within moments, gunshots were fired into the air to intimidate the guards, who were then forced to abandon the vehicles. The assailants used explosives to breach the trucks, igniting a blaze that engulfed the vehicles. Despite the scale and violence of the heist, no injuries were reported.
Millions in pension money vanish
The two armored trucks had departed from Cecina, heading to Grosseto for distribution of pension funds to local post offices. Although officials have not confirmed the total amount stolen, initial estimates suggest the gang made off with roughly three million euros. After securing the money, the criminals fled in at least three vehicles—one identified as a gray Volvo—and disappeared into the surrounding countryside.
High-level coordination and surgical execution
According to investigators from the Livorno provincial police, the operation was carried out with extreme precision. The attackers chose a strategic location—secluded and easy to isolate—and struck at dusk to reduce visibility. The roadblock allowed them several uninterrupted minutes to complete the assault. The use of explosives, alongside the apparent professionalism, points to extensive planning and access to military-grade tools.
The response: lockdowns and a growing manhunt
Law enforcement responded immediately, launching a wide-scale search operation and setting up roadblocks across Livorno, Grosseto, and Pisa provinces. Firefighters arrived on the scene to extinguish the burning trucks and secure the area. The road was closed for hours, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Tuscany’s regional governor, Eugenio Giani, confirmed there were no injuries and thanked emergency services for their swift response. Meanwhile, the local prosecutor has opened a criminal investigation for aggravated robbery, use of war weapons, and illegal explosives.
The return of the great heists
The San Vincenzo robbery signals the resurgence of a criminal phenomenon thought to be in decline: major armed heists on armored convoys. These types of crimes peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s but had become increasingly rare due to advanced security systems and closer cooperation between private security companies and law enforcement. However, recent years have seen a disturbing uptick in such incidents, executed with growing sophistication and violence.
This particular attack followed a textbook strategy: ambush, explosives, isolation, and quick escape. Experts believe these operations are no longer improvised by local gangs but may be orchestrated by highly organized criminal networks with logistics, manpower, and inside information. The fact that the attackers appeared to know the exact route and timing of the convoy raises suspicions of an internal leak.
Security at a crossroads
The heist has reignited debate over the safety of cash transport in Italy and beyond. While armored transport firms have implemented strict protocols—ranging from GPS tracking to armored vehicles and trained security personnel—events like this expose vulnerabilities, especially in rural or extra-urban routes. Experts highlight predictable routes, sparse police presence in remote areas, and the speed with which attackers disable security systems as major concerns.
Some propose stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors, the use of drones for real-time surveillance, and random route generation minutes before departure as possible countermeasures.
A warning for Europe: transnational crime on the rise?
This is not just an Italian issue. Similar heists have recently occurred in France, Belgium, and Spain, with strikingly similar tactics. According to Europol, this may indicate the rise of cross-border criminal groups capable of operating seamlessly across EU member states. If confirmed, the San Vincenzo heist would be another link in a larger European criminal chain.
The European Union may soon be called to coordinate a continent-wide response, including shared intelligence, rapid-response teams, and an updated strategy to protect the cash infrastructure that remains essential across much of the continent.