Nearly $5 million in gold stolen in brazen I-95 robbery in NC

Armed thieves in NC managed to make off Sunday evening with nearly $5 million in gold bars from a truck on I-95 — and now a $50,000 reward has been offered.

The incident happened Sunday just before 7 pm near the 114 mile marker on Interstate 95 when a truck hauling gold bars broke down and was then robbed by armed men.

Two armed security guards told deputies that they were headed from Miami to Massachusetts with a shipment of silver and gold when they experienced mechanical problems with the truck they were driving.

After they pulled over, three armed male suspects driving a white van approached them and ordered them to the ground.

They tied the victims’ hands behind their backs before making them walk into the nearby woods. The robbers fled the scene with several barrels of gold bars, which has since been valued at $4.8 million, leaving the guards in the woods.

The Wilson Times reported that there was 275 pounds of gold stolen during the incident.

The guards are employed by TransValue Inc., which according to its website, is a Miami-based company that transports valuables between financial institutions, WRAL-TV reported.

Jesus Rodriguez, the owner of TransValue, told WRAL that he could only confirm the guards were driving a tractor-trailer.  Later Monday, Rodriguez offered a reward.

“At this time we are working with the authorities to try and resolve this matter,” Rodrigez said. “We are offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of these criminals.

A photo from the Wilson Times showed a white tractor trailer that appeared to have no markings with a group of NC Troopers beside it soon after the robbery.

The guards were not hurt in the incident. The incident is still under investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been contacted.

If you have any information about the incident, contact the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office at 252-237-2118.