ATM unit, cash, CCTV robbed from bank

Generally thieves withdraw money from ATM using stolen debt or credit cards from other people accounts but in this unusual robbery thieves took off a 500-kg ATM — lock, stock and barrel from Kasarwadi branch of Union Bank of India in Pune around 3 am on Tuesday. The Union Bank of India has faced a loss of nearly Rs 11 lakh plus the cost of the machine.

The robbery attempt was in a much planned manner as hardly any marks can be seen on the floor from where the machine was pulled up, nor did the alarms go off at that time. It is alleged the gang might have come in the dress of ATM maintenance hands and took away the booty in a truck.

The cost of the ATM unit is around Rs 3 lakh and that time there was about Rs 10.8 lakh cash in the machine. Capt Akashdeep Chauhan, manager (security), Union Bank of India said, “The theft could have been done after a lot of study. The ATM has an inbuilt alarm that goes off even if the machine is hit hard, leave alone the effort to break it open. Also, the machine is so heavy that even four-five people cannot easily lift it. I was surprised to see no marks on the floor of the ATM centre from where the machine was dragged out”.

Chauhan added the thieves might have taken the unit on rollers and machines and then loaded in a van or truck. Chauhan said. Police Inspector (Crime) Ravi Chaudhar stated, “It is not humanly possible to physically lift it and lug it on the road”. According to police Inspector (Crime) Ravi Chaudhar, “The branch is on the first floor and opens from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm, while the ATM is on the ground floor. The security guard, Niranjan Adgale, did not turn up for duty on the day. If he were there, he could have prevented the theft or at least provided police with some leads. We enquired with the security company, which provides guards at 36 ATMs in the city, but they have no record of attendance for their staff. Such is their callousness.”

Chaudhar, told the bank manager Chandrashekar Kulkarni in his complaint has stated that some furniture work was being done in the bank on Monday and only the sweepers and carpenters were present when he had left around 7.30 pm. He was informed about the incidence by the bank staff who contacted him on phone on Tuesday morning.

Chaudhary told as the ATM was not fixed to the floor, thus thieves were able to remove it easily. Moreover the CCTV is inbuilt in the machine, so the identity of thieves is not possible. He added, “The service provider who manages ATMs also failed to alert bank officials when connectivity of the ATM centre was lost”.

DCP Mahesh Patil said, “We are inquiring with the security agency as to why the watchman was absent. Our teams are on the trail of the gang”.

Capt Ravi Nair, manager (security) with Bank of Maharashtra said, “There are 700 ATMs in the city. The incident raises questions on our preparedness to prevent such theft. Banks outsource ATM services to third party companies that are supposed to alert the bank and security officials when connectivity of an ATM is lost. But due to power failure and road digging work, these machines get disconnected many times, so such incidents are not taken seriously.”