Miscreants break into ATM, decamp with Rs 33L

Unidentified miscreants decamped with a huge amount of cash after breaking an ATM machine of a nationalised bank on Northern Avenue near Seven Tanks Estate at Sinthee in the wee hours on Wednesday.

Police said the exact time when the incident took place is yet to be ascertained. But preliminary investigation revealed that more than two persons were involved in the crime. The miscreants had taken away Rs 33.82 lakh.

The police are yet to identify the miscreants involved in the crime. The reason being they had disconnected the connection of the surveillance camera before carrying out the operation.

“It seems that they crawled up to the unmanned ATM counter and one of them crept inside it to disconnect the surveillance cameras. Rest of the accused had entered the counter after they were sure that the cameras were working no more,” said senior police officer.

But the power supply was not disconnected and they had used an electric cutter to cut open a portion of the ATM machine to take out the money. Before anyone could have realised anything they had decamped with the cash.

Rest part of the ATM counter remained intact and they had closed the door before leaving the place. Thus people those had passed the area early this morning didn’t notice what went wrong inside the ATM counter. The incident came to light when a local resident went inside to withdraw some money on way to market.

Hundreds of people gathered in the area as soon as he came out and started shouting to attract the notice of others present in the area.

Policemen from Sinthee police station rushed to the spot and also informed the officials of the bank. Senior officials posted in the nearest branch of the nationalised bank also went to the spot. Later the bank officials calculated that Rs 33.82 lakh was taken away.

Money looted after breaking ATM machines often get reported from the districts. But people were shocked knowing that such an incident had taken place in the city.

Officers from the city police’s detective department also visited the spot. The police are now trying to identify the accused by going through the video footages of the surveillance cameras installed at the traffic signals. A senior police officer said that investigation is on and he feels that the miscreants would get arrested soon.