mobanmarketPEMBROKE PINES, FL —A south Florida city work crew made a very interesting discovery Tuesday night when they were called out to investigate a possible sinkhole.
What they found was that the hole along a Pembroke Pines road was actually part of a tunnel leading to a Chase Bank branch, according to Special Agent Michael Leverock and spokesman Jim Marshall of the FBI in Miami. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)
The FBI suspects that the tunnel was going to be used to rob the bank at 390 S. Flamingo Road. The work crew made the discovery around 9:30 pm.
“Upon arrival, workers discovered a power cord inside the hole and determined that it was a tunnel,” explained Leverock and Marshall. ” Pembroke Pines Police were notified and responded.”
A search of the area by Pembroke Pines police turned up the tunnel entrance inside a wooded area south of the bank along with a generator, winch, wagon and other items around the tunnel.
“The FBI responded to the scene this morning and determined the tunnel was approximately 2-4 feet in diameter and at least 50 yards long,” said Leverock and Marshall on Wednesday afternoon.
A K-9 cadaver dog from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was placed into the tunnel at several points but the animal did not turn up anything.
“The FBI is investigating this situation as an attempted bank burglary,” said Leverock and Marhsall. “The bank was never breached and no money was taken.”
FBI officials are asking anyone who saw something suspicious in the area to contact the agency.
“Investigators have not determined when the tunnel was started or when it was last worked on,” added Leverock and Marshall.
To report a tip, call the FBI at 754.703.2000. The Pembroke Pines Police Department, South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force and the FBI are investigating the tunnel.
The FBI believes someone planned to use this tunnel to rob a Chase Bank branch in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Photo courtesy FBI in Miami.