A gang allegedly broke open an Axis Bank ATM using gas welding equipment and escaped with Rs. 11,95,800 in cash at Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district.
The ATM centre is located on the service road along the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway at Gummidipoondi. The incident came to light when a customer visited the ATM on Thursday morning and found the machine damaged.
On receiving information, Gummidipoondi SIPCOT police and fingerprint experts rushed to the spot and conducted an investigation. Police found that the gang had sprayed black paint on the CCTV camera at the ATM centre before using gas welding equipment to break open the machine.
An inspection by bank officials revealed that Rs. 11,95,800 kept inside the ATM had been stolen.
Police also examined CCTV footage from the surrounding area and found that the same gang had attempted to break open an Indian Overseas Bank ATM located about 10 metres from the Axis Bank ATM. The gang reportedly fled after failing to break open the second machine.
The incident has caused concern as a similar ATM robbery was reported on August 25 at Somangalam near Kanchipuram. An ICICI Bank ATM at Puthupedu village was allegedly broken open using gas welding equipment and Rs. 9 lakh was stolen.
