Security guard ‘steals deposit boxes containing £1m from own van then abandons it in London street’

Police alerted after eight hours despite resident raising alarm and traffic warden slapping vehicle with ticket

The G4S worker reportedly fled with 40 deposit boxes after abandoning the vehicle (iStock/Getty)

A security guard allegedly vanished with £1m in stolen cash from his van after parking it in a quiet residential street.

The G4S worker reportedly fled with 40 deposit boxes after abandoning the cash-in-transit vehicle on a leafy street in Clapham, south London, on Tuesday morning, The Sun reported.

The blue armoured vehicle sat on a double yellow line in Larkhall Rise for eight hours before police were alerted, despite a member of the public reporting it to G4S and a traffic warden issuing the van a ticket.

A resident who thought it was suspicious that the van was parked in a residential street said he looked inside and saw “strips of paper with ‘mum’, ‘dad’ and phone numbers".

The Metropolitan Police’s elite Flying Squad unit launched an investigation and a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft in neighbouring Brixton on Wednesday afternoon.

A quantity of cash was recovered and G4S said there had been no “material” financial impact from the incident.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at approximately 7pm on Tuesday, 23 April to reports of a theft of cash deposit boxes from a cash-in-transit vehicle.

“Officers attended a location in the Larkhall Rise area of Clapham where the vehicle was parked. There was no sign of forced entry to the vehicle.

“An investigation was launched by the Met's Flying Squad and a 36-year-old man was arrested by officers on suspicion of theft at approximately 3pm on Wednesday, 24 April in SW2.

“He has been taken to a south London police station. A quantity of cash has been recovered.”

Police said inquiries were continuing into the incident.

A G4S spokeswoman said: “These incidents are extremely rare in our UK Cash business and we are working closely with the Metropolitan Police to resolve the matter.

“The financial impact is not material.”