In a scene straight out of a crime thriller, Karnataka witnessed one of the most daring bank heists in recent memory where 59 kilograms of gold vanished without a trace from a locked vault inside a national bank. On the weekend of May 24–25, 2025, a meticulously planned and executed heist unfolded at the Mangoli branch of Canara Bank in Vijayapura district, Karnataka. A group of unidentified robbers made off with nearly 59 kilograms of gold jewellery, valued at approximately ₹53 crore, and ₹5.2 lakh in cash. This incident stands as one of the most significant bank robberies in recent Indian history. Discovery of the Heist The theft came to light on the morning of May 26, when a part-time cleaning staff member noticed that the lock on the main rolling shutter had been broken. Upon further inspection, it was found that the inner grill gate had been cut and bent, and one of the steel almirahs used to store gold ornaments was empty. A total of 1,373 gold packets, weighing 59,348.94 grams gross, were reported missing. Approximately 372 grams of gold was found scattered inside the premises, leading to a net loss of 58,976.94 grams. Additionally, ₹5.2 lakh in cash was missing from another almirah. Modus Operandi Investigations revealed that the robbers had a deep understanding of the bank's layout and security systems. They used a fake key to access a specific locker containing the pledged gold, disabled the alarm system, and removed the CCTV NVR unit and its hard disk, effectively erasing all surveillance recordings during the break-in. Interestingly, another locker containing valuables was left untouched, suggesting the culprits had prior knowledge of the bank’s internal setup. Adding an unusual twist, a black-coloured doll was found near a broken window. Investigators believe this was a deliberate act to mislead or delay the investigation by implying occult involvement. Police sources suggest that this was a diversionary tactic to confuse officials and draw attention away from the real motives and method of the crime. Investigation and Public Reaction Vijayapura Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi confirmed that eight specialized teams have been formed to handle different angles of the investigation. Authorities are exploring all possibilities, including the involvement of insiders, given the precision and knowledge displayed during the heist. The incident has sparked outrage among customers, many of whom had pledged their gold as collateral for loans. Shivana Gowda, a customer of the Canara Bank branch, stated that the fault lies with the bank’s poor security measures and not with the customers. The bank’s failure to prevent such a significant heist has raised serious concerns among the public regarding the bank’s security infrastructure. Broader Implications This heist is part of a troubling pattern of bank robberies in Karnataka. In October 2024, six robbers fled with 17 kg of gold from a State Bank of India branch in Davanagere. In January 2025, gold worth ₹12 crore was stolen from the Vyasa Seva Sahakari Sangha Bank in Mangaluru. These incidents underscore the need for robust security measures and thorough investigations to prevent such incidents in the future. The Canara Bank heist in Vijayapura is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in banking security systems. The meticulous planning, use of diversionary tactics, and exploitation of security lapses highlight the need for banks to reassess and strengthen their security protocols. As investigations continue, the hope remains that the culprits will be apprehended, and measures will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.