Udupi: Thieves break ATM machine, CCTV, fail to lay hands on cash

Silvester D’ Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Dec 10: Thieves who entered the Corporation Bank ATM kiosk late night on Monday December 10 broke the ATM machine and the CCTV but failed to steal any cash.

The ATM was shifted a few months ago from Sastan to Pandeshwar.  Arun Louis, a bank customer who had come to draw cash at about 8 am on Tuesday, December 10 found the rolling shutter of the ATM half open.  The neighborhood shopkeeper said that the machine might not be working.  Arun, who opened the shutter, was shocked to see the broken ATM and the CCTV. 

The culprits had also damaged the tubelight in the ATM. Arun informed the locals and Kota police who arrived at the spot conducted investigation.

A canine squad from Udupi which was pressed into action on Tuesday noon found an iron rod from a bush near the road on the left side of the ATM, and indicated that the culprits fled towards the highway. Fingerprint experts also have taken up the investigation.

The ATM is situated 20 meters away from the national highway and can be seen from the highway.  However it was not manned by a security guard.  There was no light outside the ATM.  The last transaction in the ATM was at 9.12 pm on Monday and the CCTV was damaged at 2.02 am.  The ATM machine was damaged at 2.09 am.

The bank officials arrived on Tuesday afternoon and checked the CCTV footage. Brahmavar circle police inspector Aruna Nayak, Kota sub-inspector K R Naik and staff visited the place and further investigation is on.

Now that ATM thefts are occurring even in the villages, the banks need to ensure security for the ATMs and the customers, said the locals expressing their anguish at the incident.