A branch of a bank in Guadalajara, Jalisco, was robbed on Thursday at around 10:30 a.m. by a woman who threatened a teller with a written note, received a bundle of bills, and then threw a Molotov cocktail inside the premises before fleeing. The branch is located in Plaza Atemajac, at the intersection of Federalismo and Patria avenues, in the Fábrica de Atemajac neighborhood.
- Location and time: A bank branch in Plaza Atemajac, Guadalajara, Jalisco, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
- Method: The woman handed a threatening message to a teller, obtained a bundle of bills, and threw an incendiary device before escaping.
- Casualties: No injuries were reported; five people suffered nervous breakdowns and one had mild smoke inhalation. The amount stolen was not quantified.
- Investigation: Authorities are reviewing security cameras from the branch, the plaza, and the C5 system to identify the perpetrator, who has not been arrested.
The robbery and escape with an incendiary device
According to a Guadalajara Municipal Police officer, the woman, between 35 and 40 years old and apparently homeless, was carrying a bottle with explosive chemicals, known as a Molotov cocktail. The teller handed over a bundle of bills that was to one side, without the amount taken being counted. After receiving the cash, the woman threw the device inside the branch and fled.
The explosion caused a flash fire at the teller entrance and damage only in the area of the window where the incendiary device landed. Officers who responded to the report said no one was injured, though five people experienced nervous breakdowns. One more person suffered mild smoke inhalation, and it was not reported that they required transfer to a hospital.
Authorities' response and material damage
Elements of the National Guard, along with personnel from Guadalajara Civil Protection and Firefighters, arrived at the shopping plaza after receiving several reports about the fire inside the bank. The area was inspected by emergency crews to rule out additional risks.
Authorities reviewed security cameras from the branch, Plaza Atemajac, and the C5 system to try to identify the perpetrator. They also analyzed records from other bank branches in order to locate her. So far, it has not been reported how much money the bundle of bills contained that the woman received before escaping, and her arrest has not been reported.
Context: bank robberies in Jalisco
The number of bank robberies in Jalisco has maintained a steady downward trend since 2020, according to official data from the Monitoring of Development Indicators of Jalisco (MIDE) platform. The historical record of robberies at banking institutions between 2020 and 2026 is as follows: 26 robberies in 2020, 24 in 2021, 11 in 2022, 12 in 2023, 7 in 2024, 1 in 2025, and 1 in 2026 to date.
Despite the overall statistical decline, during recent months of 2026 there have been violent methods against banking infrastructure and branches in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area and other municipalities. Among recent high-impact incidents is this robbery with an incendiary device in Guadalajara, as well as the theft of ATMs with tools in the La Venta del Astillero neighborhood of Zapopan, where criminals destroyed the casing of an ATM to take all the cash without using explosives. Active investigations were also reported for the opening and robbery of ATMs using explosive material in the Ajijic delegation of Chapala.
The Plaza Atemajac case shows that, despite the reduction in the number of bank robberies, violent methods persist that put employees and customers at risk. The review of cameras and records from other branches will be key to locating the perpetrator, while authorities keep the investigation open to determine the amount of the loot and clarify whether the woman acted alone or with support from third parties.