Police: Thieves Cut Hole In Roof Of Brooklyn Bank, Steal $280,000

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The FBI is on the hunt for the burglars behind a Brooklyn bank heist. They stole hundreds of thousands of dollars and broke into safe deposit boxes, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.

The HSBC Bank on 13th Avenue and 44th Street in Borough Park, Brooklyn, was shut down for the second day in a row as police and the FBI investigate the brazen robbery.

This weekend, prowlers broke in through the roof during the Sabbath when streets were barren, and they got into the vault.

Workers showed up Monday morning and found $280,000 gone and a number of safe deposit boxes full of jewelry and cash emptied out.

"When I went to my bank today the first thing I asked is can I insure my safe boxes," customer Esther Kahana said.

Jeanne Salvatore, with the Insurance Information Institute, said banks don't insure safe deposit boxes. Their insurance typically covers cash thefts only. But what happens if there's a burglary?

"If your safe deposit box was stolen you should talk to the bank and see if there's any compensation," she said.

Salvatore said before you secure prize possessions at the bank, insure them individually. Take inventory of what you're putting in safe deposit boxes and the value and contact your homeowners or renters insurance company as you might have partial coverage. Salvatore said you'll likely need supplemental coverage called in-vault coverage.

"The most important thing is to tell your company you're keeping these items in a safe deposit box," she said.

Detectives are scouring through the building for clues on who could have done this and where the stolen property could be.

Police told CBS2 the bank is still working with customers to figure out exactly what was stolen.