The failed attempt to break into a security van with a bulldozer earlier this week may have been planned but it was still doomed because the machine had little chance of tearing into the armoured vehicle, according to a man who works in the business.

"These vans were built to act as a deterrent to theft. We try to make it clear that it is very difficult to get to the valuables inside," Martin Azzopardi, Group 4 Security general manager, said.

Mr Azzopardi had nothing but high praise for the way the guards, employed with competitor company Security Services Ltd, acted during Monday's ambush in Qormi Road, Sta Venera.

Nine men have been arrested in connection with the failed heist on the cash van that was transporting an estimated €2.8 million in cash. The van was blocked by two vehicles while a bulldozer tried to claw open the back doors. Shots were fired - one at the driver's window - but no one was injured. A few minutes into the job, the thieves gave up and left.

Even though the police believe the thieves planned the heist at least three months ago, Mr Azzopardi felt there was a knowledge gap when it came to hitting the van.

"It was actually a good plan but there was lack of knowledge when it came to the van. I'm happy it wasn't successful because it sent out a clear message to thieves that these vans are impenetrable," he said.

Breaking into such vans needs time, which was something the thieves did not have. "In these cases, the thieves only have a couple of minutes to spare and it is not enough."

Incidentally, on Monday, thieves in France proved what lengths one needs to go through to get into this sort of van swiftly when they blasted their way into it.

The gang of about a dozen people, armed with rifles and explosives, cornered the vehicle with four cars and blew away the doors to get into the van. They only managed to get to half of the €8 million in the van.

Mr Azzopardi said the money in these kind of vans would be stored in special boxed compartments which, if not opened by the right person, would stain the notes with indelible ink.

Also, the guards did not have access to the money in the van. If ambushed - as was the case on Monday - the guards have orders to sit put and wait. The guards involved in the hold-up acted as they should: they shut down the van and activated all alarms, Mr Azzopardi said. Once this happens, the van cannot be opened in any way from the outside; not even the driver and passenger doors.

He strongly believes that the guards should not be allowed to carry weapons because this would give a reason for thieves to use them. "Our first priority is to protect the lives of our guards and the second is to protect the money."

A spokesman for Security Services said the guards' training was crucial and that they acted professionally all throughout. The van's design and EU standards was also up to the test. "They worked," the spokesman said.

The police are waiting for the results of various forensic tests - including gunshot residue examinations - carried out on the nine suspects who all have a criminal record linked to theft.

Using at least six vehicles, the gang of robbers blocked the van with a grey pick-up truck that stopped abruptly in front of the security vehicle. However, while trying to open the van with the bulldozer, the pick-up was dislodged and the machine at the back lost its leverage. They immediately made off in a getaway van, which was abandoned and set on fire in Mrieħel.