WELL aware that most Automated Teller Machines (ATM) booths are fitted with CCTV cameras, suspected burglars uprooted an 800kg cash machine, so that its built-in cameras do not give them away.

The theft took place at an ATM center, belonging to the Union Bank of India in Chikhali area of New Delhi, one of the country’s major cities. A shopkeeper noticed that the machine inside the ATM booth was missing and immediately informed the police.



Police said the thieves had first blocked the view of the camera fitted at the entrance of the ATM booth with a flex board and then escaped with the cash machine containing 7.6 million rupees. The incident, according to local media, happened just a day after a similar attempt-to-break-in occurred at another ATM center in the city. The thieves there were, however, unsuccessful.

Police said the latest incident took place in the wee hours and the burglars were aided by the fact that the machine was not fixed properly to the floor. Also, the place where the ATM booth stood was leased out to the bank just three months ago and a security guard was yet to be appointed, police further disclosed “The incident might have taken place between 12pm and 5am,” said Police Inspector Somanth Jadhav. “The thieves used a flex board to obstruct the view of the camera. The disc that captures the CCTV footage is installed in the machine, which they took away.”

Jadhav also disclosed that the dog squad was not able to give any clues and no fingerprints were found. According to reports, a similar case was reported in October 2009, where thieves fled with the ATM of Union Bank containing more than 10 million rupees.