Armored car guards engage hijacking suspect in gunbattle

Houston TX Dec 28 2011 The FBI’s bank robbery task force is investigating a brazen daylight armored car hijacking outside a Heights-area grocery store.

The armed man grabbed the Triple D Security van about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday while it was parked at a Kroger gas station in the 1300 block of West 11th at Shepherd.

One of the guards was inside making a delivery when the hijacker approached the van and managed to get inside.

“He gained access between deliveries. How exactly that occurred is what we’re still piecing together,” said Special Agent Shauna Dunlap with the Houston FBI office.

A second employee was inside the van at the time.

A short gunbattle broke out during the hijacking, but there were no reported injuries, officials said.

The armored security van was later found abandoned at the Colonial Apartments, 900 N. Durham. The van appeared to have been struck by gunfire.

“He could have had a vehicle stashed at that location or a vehicle stashed close by,” Dunlap said.

Investigators did not have a detailed description of the hijacker.

He got away with an undisclosed amount of cash from the security van.