Gang targets ATM kiosk on Sarjapur Road in Bengaluru, steals cash hours after similar theft in Hosur

Investigations have revealed that the two burglaries took place within hours of each other. The distance between the two ATMs was 35 km.

A gang of armed men barged into an ATM kiosk of Axis Bank in Doddakannalli village on Sarjapur Road, cut open the machine and stole the money that was inside. A week before the burglary, ₹16.5 lakh had been loaded in the ATM.

The burglary took place on July 6. The ATM kiosk did not have a security guard at the time of the burglary.

Investigations have revealed that the burglary took place hours after another ATM kiosk was similarly looted in Hosur, across the border in Tamil Nadu, using a similar modus operandi. Both crimes are suspected to be the work of one gang

The gang of robbers had covered themselves in bedsheets to hide their identity. There were at least two of them. They sprayed paint on the cameras in the ATM kiosk to ensure their faces were not seen when they cut open the ATM machine.

However, police have a partial view of the face of one of the accused before he sprayed painted on all the cameras in the ATM kiosk. The gang reportedly used a gas-cutter to cut open the machine, sources said.

The incident came to light on July 7 when Mumbai-based e-surveillance company Securens System Private Limited, that was overseeing the ATM kiosk, alerted Kiran E. G., a local representative of AGS Transact Technologies Private Limited that has the contract to refill and maintain the ATM. He lodged a complaint with Bellandur police.

In his complaint, Kiran E.G. he informed that Secure Value India Limited has the contract to refill cash at that particular ATM, and had loaded ₹16.5 lakh in the machine on July 1. There is no clarity on the quantum of cash that was inside the machine at the time of the break-in.