ATM broken open; Rs 3 lakh cash stolen in TN

While examining the surveillance camera footage in the neighbourhood, images revealed four persons getting out of a car at the ATM.

“The masked burglars downed the shutters on entering the ATM centre. They had sprayed foam over the CCTV before disconnecting it. The burglary alarm was also disconnected at the ATM, which had no security guards,” police said. The burglars then cut opens the ATM machine using a gas cutter. Police suspect the incident to have taken place around 2 am though it came to light at 4 am when a taxi driver noticed that the ATM was broken into and informed the Peelamedu police, who then rushed to the spot.

After initial enquiries, police suspect the hand of a professional gang. City Police Commissioner K Periaiah visited the ATM and held inquiries. Fingerprints were also lifted from the scene of crime.

In the last two weeks, there were three futile attempts to burgle ATMs in different places in Coimbatore district , but on Sunday, the criminals managed to successfully break open another ATM and flee away with the cash.

A father and son from Kanniyakumari were arrested for attempting to break open an ATM on Cross Cut Road, a youth from Udumalpet was held for attempting to break open an ATM at Podanur, while police are clueless on a similar attempt at Park Gate area. Police said in all the incidents, the burglars have targeted only ATMs without security guards.