CLINTON, Md. — Several armed men ambushed a Brinks armored truck driver outside the Navy Federal Credit Union in Clinton on Monday, assaulting him and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash, Prince George’s County police said. The robbery unfolded around 8:30 a.m. in the 8800 block of Woodyard Road, where the suspects approached the vehicle, pistol-whipped the driver and seized bags of money before escaping in a waiting car.
The driver, whose name police did not release, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment at the scene from emergency responders. No other individuals were harmed in the incident, authorities confirmed. Investigators from the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Robbery Unit responded immediately, securing the area and reviewing surveillance footage from the credit union and nearby businesses. As of late Monday afternoon, no arrests had been made, and police described the suspects only as multiple Black males wearing dark clothing and masks. They urged anyone with information to contact detectives at 301-352-4200 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477.
The heist occurred at a busy shopping center anchored by the Navy Federal Credit Union, a branch that serves thousands of military members and civilians in the area. Woodyard Road, a major artery in Clinton, sees heavy traffic during morning hours, raising concerns about public safety during the brief but violent encounter. Witnesses reported hearing shouts and seeing the suspects sprint to a dark-colored sedan that sped northbound, though plate details remain unclear. Police closed portions of the road for several hours to process the scene, diverting commuters and prompting brief delays at nearby intersections.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks issued a statement emphasizing the department’s commitment to swift resolution. “Armed robberies like this undermine community trust and safety, and our officers are working around the clock to bring those responsible to justice,” she said through a spokesperson. The incident prompted a heightened patrol presence in the Clinton area, including unmarked vehicles monitoring financial institutions.
Armored truck robberies, while rare, have a documented history in Prince George’s County, often involving coordinated teams targeting high-value deliveries. In one notable case from January 2014, four men ambushed a Loomis armored vehicle outside a restaurant in the Allentown Road corridor, pistol-whipping guards and escaping with more than $200,000 before federal agents tracked them down months later. The perpetrators, all from the Washington area, received sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years after pleading guilty to federal charges of armed robbery and firearms offenses. That event highlighted vulnerabilities in routine cash transports, leading to enhanced protocols such as GPS tracking on vehicles and duress alarms for drivers.
Earlier precedents trace back decades in the county. A 1994 heist in Largo saw robbers strike an armored car at a shopping plaza, part of a surge that accounted for six of seven such incidents statewide that year. Federal Bureau of Investigation data from the era pointed to Prince George’s as a hotspot due to its proximity to interstates and dense commercial zones. More recently, a 2013 conspiracy unraveled when five men were indicted for a series of armored truck hits, including one where victims were shot during a delivery stop. Prosecutors secured convictions through cell phone records and accomplice testimony, underscoring the role of technology in modern investigations.
Brinks, the company operating the truck, issued a brief statement confirming the event but deferred details to law enforcement. The firm, which transports billions in currency yearly across the U.S., maintains rigorous training for drivers, including defensive tactics and rapid response drills. Industry experts note that while armored vehicles feature bulletproof glass and reinforced cabs, the human element remains the weakest link during loading operations.
The Navy Federal Credit Union branch, one of dozens serving military personnel in the region, operates under stringent security measures, including 24-hour surveillance and on-site guards. No disruptions to customer services were reported following the robbery, though the facility heightened alerts for the day.
As the investigation unfolds, police anticipate releasing suspect sketches or vehicle descriptions within 48 hours, pending forensic analysis. The Robbery Unit, which handles more than 1,200 cases annually, employs a mix of traditional footwork and digital forensics to connect dots across jurisdictions. In the interim, authorities advised financial institutions to review protocols and urged residents to report suspicious activity near banks or delivery routes.
This robbery serves as a reminder of the calculated risks in cash logistics, where a split-second opportunity can yield significant hauls but invite severe repercussions. Federal involvement seems likely if the getaway vehicle crosses state lines, mirroring past collaborations that dismantled regional crews.