The Portugal Judicial Police (PJ) has assumed control of an investigation into a violent pre-dawn robbery in which explosives were used to blast open an ATM inside a Lidl supermarket in Coimbra's Santa Clara neighborhood.
What Happened
Shortly after midnight, a group of assailants forced entry through a side door of the Lidl location near the cemetery in Santa Clara, a residential district on Coimbra's left bank of the Mondego River. Once inside, they deployed explosive devices to destroy the in-store ATM (multibanco) and extract cash. According to reports, the attackers activated a fire extinguisher upon exiting, a tactic designed to obscure forensic evidence.
Immediate Impact
The Lidl store on the Santa Clara plateau remains closed indefinitely while forensic teams investigate the crime scene. For local residents, this disruption affects daily shopping access in a neighborhood where the Lidl serves as a primary grocery anchor. The crime scene has been sealed off while the PJ processes evidence.
No arrests have been announced, and authorities have not disclosed the value of the stolen funds or whether surveillance footage has yielded actionable leads.
Police Response
The Public Security Police (PSP) initially responded but transferred the case to the PJ due to the violent nature and use of explosive devices. The Judicial Police specializes in violent crime, organized networks, and cases involving explosives, signaling the seriousness with which authorities treat these incidents.
Investigators will focus on analyzing explosive residue to trace the origin of the devices, pulling CCTV footage from surrounding businesses and municipal cameras, and cross-referencing this robbery with similar ATM attacks across the region.
What Residents Should Know
The incident highlights that even lower-crime areas can be targeted by organized criminal operations. Police are urging anyone who witnessed unusual vehicle activity or suspicious individuals near the store between midnight and 3 a.m. to contact the PJ's Coimbra delegation directly.
Early-morning joggers, dog walkers, and shift workers in the area may have observed getaway vehicles or other critical details that could assist the investigation.
For now, residents should anticipate a prolonged store closure while the investigation continues. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward to support the ongoing investigation.
