Thieves armed with toy weapons who dug a tunnel into a post office in Florence stole 70,000 euros (USD 95,000) today after locking terrified staff in the vault, police said.
"The armed robbers had hidden inside the post office. They jumped out at the staff on their arrival and forced them to open up the vault," a policewoman told AFP.
Some 50,000 euros in cash and 20,000 euros in tax stamps were stolen by the thieves, who fled back along the 12-metre (39 foot) long tunnel which they are believed to have dug during the weekend, she said.
Before making their escape, the bandits -- dressed entirely in black -- locked the 12 members of staff in the vault. Their toy guns were later discovered discarded in the tunnel.
