Employee, cash missing from armored car following stop at Jefferson Mall

Mark N. Espinosa, 29, stands 5'10" and weighs 225 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. When last seen, Espinosa was wearing a blue work uniform.

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Louisville Metro police are looking for a armored-car crew member who’s been missing since Wednesday.

Mark N. Espinosa, 29, stands 5'10" and weighs 225 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. When last seen, Espinosa was wearing a blue work uniform.

Espinosa was one of two employees from GardaWorld, a private security firm that handles transfers of cash between banks and businesses.

The GardaWorld armored vehicle was reported missing around 3:15 p.m. December 5. It was later... — The GardaWorld armored vehicle was reported missing around 3:15 p.m. December 5. It was later found on the north side of Jefferson Mall.(Source: Louisville Metro Police Department)

The driver of the armored car called Louisville Metro police Wednesday afternoon to report that Espinosa was nowhere to be found, and some of the cash from the armored car was missing. The vehicle was parked next to Jefferson Mall near Round 1, the new recreation and entertainment center.

WAVE 3 News was first to report the case Wednesday. LMPD would only say Thursday that the amount of missing money was undetermined.

A manager at Round 1 told WAVE 3 News that none of the employees there said they saw anything suspicious.

A former Garda trainer, James Grimes, said the trucks can carry millions of dollars, but they are nearly impossible to break into.

He said the doors don’t open unless several specific steps are taken. He also said not even a high-powered pistol could penetrate the windows or vehicle. Grimes said they don’t even have an external fuel tank anyone could mess with.

As for the employees, Grimes said they are required to get an armed guard license through the city, which requires 40 hours of training and possession of a concealed carry permit.

Grimes explained the employees go through a background check for felonies, and a credit check too. They are not sworn officers, he said, but rather average citizens who normally don’t have a law enforcement background.

Anyone who has seen Espinosa is asked to call the LMPD Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). All calls are confidential.

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