New Delhi: "Robbers uprooting ATM and decamp with lakh of rupees" have been the talks of the town for quite sometimes now with thieves operating in the Delhi-NCR region targeting ATMs with no security personnel. Taking the note of the situation, Delhi Police are now started patrolling at all the ATMs operating in National Capital.
Police sources disclosed to The Millennium Post that a meeting of senior police officers with bank officials was held recently in which directions were given to the bankers to put security measures in their ATMs as many of the cameras installed there are not functioning properly. "Some were installed in less populated areas and became an easy target for the thieves," said a police source, adding that police have also prepared a list for ATMs which are located in vulnerable places.
In North East Delhi, the police personnel who are in patrolling duties from 1 am to 6 am checks the ATMs of their areas. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-east) Ajit Kumar Singla told Correspondent that they have taken several initiatives to curb the crime in their area. "Our motorcycle patrolling team in night check the areas ATM and then move to different places," said the DCP. The senior police official took the report of patrolling from the beat staff every day.
Police personnel on duty also checked the effectiveness of the guards deployed nearby ATMs as if they are sleeping or not and advised them to be vigilant in their works. The areas where there are more empty plots have been patrolled as it is more vulnerable to crime. In Dwarka district too, senior officials have directed their beat staffs to keep a tab on ATMs and took action if they found something suspicious
Earlier in October, a gang of robbers had stolen an ATM containing Rs. 31 lakh in South-west Delhi's Chhawla. From Bindapur area accused made off with an ATM, containing Rs 3.5 lakh, from an unguarded kiosk in southwest Delhi's Bindapur.
The footage, obtained from a nearby shop, shows the four men entering the kiosk and fleeing with the ATM in a tempo. The ATM did not have a security guard and it is suspected that the accused were aware of it.