Thieves use July 4th fireworks as cover for bank robbery

Remember that report from last week about the corporate risks associated with holiday celebrations like the Fourth of July?

“The July 4 holiday celebrates the spirit this country was founded on,” wrote Keith Lewis from CargoNet in the article. “Unfortunately, while many Americans spend the day barbequing and watching fireworks, there are some who spend it worrying about the safety of their company's cargo. Historically, the Independence Day holiday period has shown cargo is exceptionally vulnerable to theft because of reduced security or, in some cases, no security at all.”

[Related: Infographic: July 4 Cargo Theft Trends]

Turns out, it isn't just cargo that's at risk while the rest of us enjoy a day off.

A group of thieves in New York City put this topic into practice on this most recent July 4, taking advantage of the holiday last week to rob a bank on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and using noise from a local fireworks show to cover up the sound of their cutting a hole in the roof. The process is said to have taken more than an hour and the theives ended up making off with nearly $300,000, according to reports.

“The fireworks were really loud, so if someone tried to cut through or do something, you wouldn't hear it,” neighbor Danielle Lovier told the New York Post after the crime was discovered.

Read the full story at The New York Post.