A security camera captured the violent moment a bank vault erupted in a blast that shook the center of Guidoval, Minas Gerais, during a targeted heist in the early hours of Friday, April 10. The footage reveals the sheer force of the detonation, which not only breached the vault but knocked one of the hooded suspects backward, sending them sprawling across the floor as debris and a thick cloud of dust filled the agency.
The attack, which targeted a Banco do Brasil branch in the Zona da Mata region, unfolded around 3 a.m. The precision and violence of the explosion suggest the use of high-grade explosives, a tactic increasingly common in regional bank robberies. Debris from the vault was propelled through the building’s structure and scattered across the public street, leaving the facade of the agency heavily damaged.
The crime was first detected by a local security guard who lives near the branch. Alerted by the noise and the subsequent chaos, the guard immediately contacted the Military Police, triggering a rapid response from local law enforcement. Despite the swift alert, the suspects managed to exit the building and initiate a calculated escape plan designed to thwart police pursuit.
Tactical evasion and the use of ‘miguelitos’
As the group fled the scene, they employed a common but effective tactic used by organized crime groups in Brazil: the scattering of “miguelitos.” These are small, triangular-shaped nails or spikes thrown onto the asphalt to puncture the tires of pursuing police vehicles, effectively creating a barrier between the criminals and the authorities.
The escape was further complicated by the injury sustained by one of the perpetrators during the initial blast. Security footage and witness reports indicate that the suspect who was knocked down by the explosion sought refuge in a nearby clothing store. In a desperate attempt to evade identification and mislead police patrols, the individual broke into the shop and changed their shirt before continuing the flight.
Social media videos shared by residents of Guidoval show the aftermath of the explosão de cofre durante ataque a banco em MG, depicting a scene of urban wreckage with shattered glass and concrete fragments littering the street. Other recordings show the hooded suspects entering the agency shortly before the detonation.
Coordinated federal and state response
Due to the use of explosives and the nature of the target, the Polícia Federal (Federal Police) has been summoned to lead the investigation. In Brazil, crimes involving the explosion of ATMs or vaults typically fall under federal jurisdiction because they often involve organized gangs operating across state lines.
To secure the perimeter and search for the suspects, the Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (Bope)—the state’s elite tactical unit—was deployed to Guidoval. Bope is typically called in for high-risk scenarios where suspects may be armed with high-caliber weapons or are hiding in rural terrain.
While the police are still processing the scene, some unconfirmed reports suggest that the vehicle used in the getaway may have been set on fire in a rural area to destroy forensic evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA. Local authorities are currently verifying these reports through rural patrols.
Current Status of the Investigation
As of the latest updates, several key details remain unknown and investigators are working to fill the gaps in the timeline:
- Amount Stolen: Banco do Brasil has been contacted for a statement, but the total value of the loss has not yet been disclosed.
- Suspect Identification: Police are analyzing security footage and clothing store evidence to identify the injured suspect.
- Casualties: Aside from the suspect injured by the blast, no civilian injuries have been reported.
| Time (Approx.) | Event |
|---|---|
| 03:00 AM | Explosion occurs; vault breached; vigilante alerts police. |
| 03:15 AM | Suspects flee; “miguelitos” scattered on the road. |
| Post-Blast | Injured suspect changes clothes in a local store to evade capture. |
| Morning | Bope and Federal Police arrive to secure the site and begin forensics. |
The use of explosives in small-town bank branches has become a worrying trend in the interior of Minas Gerais, often associated with the “Novo Cangaço” style of robbery, characterized by high violence, tactical coordination, and the use of explosives to bypass security systems.
The investigation now moves into the forensic phase, with the Federal Police analyzing the type of explosive used to determine the origin of the materials. The next confirmed checkpoint will be the release of the official forensic report from the crime scene and the formal statement from Banco do Brasil regarding the financial loss.
If you have any information regarding this incident or witnessed the getaway, please contact local authorities. We invite you to share this story and leave your comments below.
