THE HEIDELBERG, PENNSYLVANIA, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT (near Pittsburgh) rents out its hall regularly for a client that holds all-night poker tournaments in it.  Early this morning around 2:30 am, a group of armed robbers broke into the locked hall while the game was in progress and held up the players at gunpoint.

The robbers sought out a woman who handles the funds and hit her over the head with a club before taking the “bank.”  Police are considering that someone affiliated with the FD or the tournament operators could be involved because the hold-up men were familiar with the layout and security measures that the tenant used.

WTAE-TV Ch. 4 Pittsburgh has this early video report from the scene:

The police have announced that they have identified one of the robbers as a man who plays in the tournament regularly and they expect to make at least one arrest later today.  The VFD has issued no public comment other than to verify that the hall is rented out regularly for the poker tournaments.

Update, Tuesday 10 pm:
The police did not make any arrests yet.  According to their statements, somebody in the hall left the building through a side emergency exit that was secured with panic bars inside, but no access from the outside.  As the man passed through the door, he let two of the robbers enter.  They in turn let in a third accomplice.

A recent report from WTAE-TV descibes in more detail what went on during the robbery that has netted several thousands of dollars HERE.