Customer Rescued After Being Trapped for Nearly 10 Hours Inside Manhattan’s Diamond District Vault

In a harrowing incident that unfolded in the heart of Manhattan’s Diamond District, a 23-year-old customer found themselves trapped inside a massive vault for almost 10 hours. The ordeal began around 7 p.m. at 580 Fifth Avenue when the customer, attempting to access their safety deposit box, became inadvertently locked inside. This puzzling incident occurred as the security vault, which operates on a timing mechanism, shut its massive door without knowledge of the customer’s presence. The door remained locked until a specific time elapsed, prompting a dramatic rescue operation that involved New York City’s finest.

According to official reports, the vault’s automated time mechanism posed a unique challenge for the rescue team. As FDNY Chief John Sarrocco explained, “There was a customer inside the vault at the time that it closed. Once it’s closed, it’s on a timing mechanism. That vault does not reopen until a certain amount of time passes.” Over the course of nearly 10 hours, FDNY and NYPD personnel worked tirelessly to break through approximately 30 inches of concrete before reaching the vault’s metal plating. The trapped individual remained in communication with the rescue team through a phone and was continuously monitored via security cameras. Ultimately, the vault’s timing mechanism released its hold, allowing the customer to regain their freedom.

This extraordinary incident highlights the importance of the safety protocols in place at the Diamond District’s DGA Securities vault. Their website proudly boasts a commitment to “security, services, and tools you need to conduct business,” with a network of surveillance systems ensuring round-the-clock monitoring. Fortunately, the story of the trapped customer in the Manhattan vault ended with their safe release, but it serves as a reminder of the precision and care required in the operation of such high-security facilities.

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