Hyderabad: Rachakonda police investigating the robbery at a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM at the Raviryala branch in Maheshwaram, discovered that the accused, along with their car, went off the radar from Sangareddy district.
Police suspect the criminals and their vehicle might have been transferred into a waiting container truck before starting their journey along the highway. Based on the modus operandi, cops suspect that a gang from Haryana may be behind the crime.
On March 3, after opening the ATM using a gas cutter, the culprits stole 30 lakh within just seven minutes.
Meanwhile, four days earlier, a similar crime had occurred at Ankur Park Society in Jahangirpura, Gujarat, wherein five individuals stole 18 lakh from an SBI ATM by removing cash from the machine using a gas cutter. Just like in Maheshwaram, the culprits first sprayed paint on the CCTV cameras, covered their faces, and wore gloves. The operation was completed in 15 minutes, and the thieves then fled in an SUV.
“It is the modus operandi of a Haryana-based gang, where different individuals work in coordination. While one team executes the burglary, others wait on the highway with a container truck. The car, the burglars, and the stolen cash are transferred into the container,” a source in the Rachakonda police told TOI.
Prior to the SBI ATM offence, the criminals made an unsuccessful attempt at another private bank’s ATM, where the cash was destroyed in the machine due to a fire. The police believe there is an urgent need to improve security at ATM centres, especially those belonging to Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
Currently, banks use technology to alert them about any security breaches. When an attempt is made to tamper with an ATM, the relevant bank manager receives an alert on their phone. Similarly, the centralised remote monitoring team also receives the alert. This team monitors CCTV footage from the ATM and responds if there is any sabotage. However, the time it takes for bank officials to react to an alert has proven to be more than enough for the criminals to break into the ATM, complete their theft, and escape with the cash.
“It is the bank’s policy to ideally have minimal human security at ATM centres,” the police stated.
Recently, in an incident under the jurisdiction of Moghalpura police station, a lone burglar spent two hours inside an ATM centre, breaking into it with a stone, but only managed to remove one cassette, which contained no cash.
Police suggest the use of electronically operated machines, where the cash will be destroyed by a short circuit if an attempt is made to open the ATM. However, many PSBs still use manually operated machines, which have hinges, unlike electronically operated ones.
Police suspect the criminals and their vehicle might have been transferred into a waiting container truck before starting their journey along the highway. Based on the modus operandi, cops suspect that a gang from Haryana may be behind the crime.
On March 3, after opening the ATM using a gas cutter, the culprits stole 30 lakh within just seven minutes.
Meanwhile, four days earlier, a similar crime had occurred at Ankur Park Society in Jahangirpura, Gujarat, wherein five individuals stole 18 lakh from an SBI ATM by removing cash from the machine using a gas cutter. Just like in Maheshwaram, the culprits first sprayed paint on the CCTV cameras, covered their faces, and wore gloves. The operation was completed in 15 minutes, and the thieves then fled in an SUV.
“It is the modus operandi of a Haryana-based gang, where different individuals work in coordination. While one team executes the burglary, others wait on the highway with a container truck. The car, the burglars, and the stolen cash are transferred into the container,” a source in the Rachakonda police told TOI.
Prior to the SBI ATM offence, the criminals made an unsuccessful attempt at another private bank’s ATM, where the cash was destroyed in the machine due to a fire. The police believe there is an urgent need to improve security at ATM centres, especially those belonging to Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
Currently, banks use technology to alert them about any security breaches. When an attempt is made to tamper with an ATM, the relevant bank manager receives an alert on their phone. Similarly, the centralised remote monitoring team also receives the alert. This team monitors CCTV footage from the ATM and responds if there is any sabotage. However, the time it takes for bank officials to react to an alert has proven to be more than enough for the criminals to break into the ATM, complete their theft, and escape with the cash.
“It is the bank’s policy to ideally have minimal human security at ATM centres,” the police stated.
Recently, in an incident under the jurisdiction of Moghalpura police station, a lone burglar spent two hours inside an ATM centre, breaking into it with a stone, but only managed to remove one cassette, which contained no cash.
Police suggest the use of electronically operated machines, where the cash will be destroyed by a short circuit if an attempt is made to open the ATM. However, many PSBs still use manually operated machines, which have hinges, unlike electronically operated ones.
