The World - News from July 28, 1986

A gang who spent six weekends in Rome sewers burrowing toward the central post office vaults were caught just inches from their goal, police said. The six-man gang could have netted nearly $70 million in cash and stamps if their plan had succeeded, the police added. The men, led by a former post office employee who was fired several years ago, had excavated a 15-foot long tunnel from the sewers toward the reinforced wall of the underground strong room. they were removing the last inches of soil before attacking the wall with drills just after midnight when passers-by alerted security guards about noises coming from below, the police said.