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Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A gang of heavily armed criminals attacked four Brazilian banking agencies Monday in a small town some 110 miles northeast of Sao Paulo. The attackers bombed banking agencies of Banco do Brasil, Santander, Bradesco and the credit agency Sicred of the town of Campos do Jordao, R7 reported.
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Authorities have yet to determine how much was stolen in the attacks, which occurred around 3:30 a.m. Monday. Police had not made an arrest or knew how many attackers were involved, R7 added. At least 20 heavily-armed individuals were in the gang, G1 Globo reported.
The group used explosives to blow up the automated teller machine and shot security cameras, G1's report said. Vehicles were also burned in a tunnel that's the main artery into the city, and officials said the perpetrators burned the vehicles to hinder police.
Authorities used an alert system to warn residents to stay inside during the attacks, which lasted about 30 minutes.
Bank officials didn't immediately estimate the bandits' take or the cost of damages.
Such attacks are not uncommon in Brazil.
On Nov. 26, a gang of 50 attacked banks and police and military barracks in northern Brazil. Three suspects were captured and two were believed to be local residents who'd picked up some of the bills left by the attackers.
On Nov. 1, a gang attacked three banking agencies in the greater Sao Paulo area, which led to an exchange of fire when police arrived. The suspects fled in two vehicles.
Faced with increasing violence, Brazilians elected Jair Bolonaro president, who during his campaign promised to make it a priority to fight rampant crime.
