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Seven unidentified miscreants allegedly stole an entire State Bank of India (SBI) ATM from near Seva Dham in the Nandan Pahar area of Deoghar, Jharkhand. The incident took place under the jurisdiction of Deoghar Town Police Station and has raised concerns over the security of ATMs in the city.
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According to preliminary information, the miscreants reached the ATM room at around 3:30 AM. They first damaged the shutter and then used a gas cutter to detach the ATM machine from its position. After removing the machine, they tied it with a rope and dragged it along the road for around 500 metres.
The group then reached a secluded location, where they reportedly loaded the ATM into a car and fled from the spot. The incident came to light after the SBI ATM controlling office in Patna informed the local police.
A PCR team immediately reached the location and inspected the ATM room and surrounding area. Police are examining CCTV footage from nearby cameras, which is believed to have captured the activities of the suspects during the robbery.
Police said the suspects had covered their faces with scarves. However, the CCTV footage could still provide important clues about their movements, vehicle and the manner in which the ATM was removed.
The security guard posted at the ATM was on duty until 10 PM. After completing his shift, he closed the shutter of the ATM counter and left the location. The suspects reportedly targeted the ATM around five and a half hours later.
The guard also reached the spot after learning about the incident in the morning. Police are now investigating whether the suspects had conducted a recce of the ATM before carrying out the robbery.
The exact amount of cash inside the ATM at the time of the incident is not yet known. Since the entire machine was taken away, the actual cash balance will have to be confirmed by the bank or the agency responsible for loading cash into the ATM.
