Robbers attempted to loot two ATM centres in the city in the early hours of Tuesday.
Investigators believe that the gangs that attacked the HDFC Bank ATM centre at Shaikpet near Banjara Hills and the Karur Vysya Bank ATM centre at HUDA Colony of Manikonda in Raidurg are different.
In the first instance, two strangers barged into the ATM centre at Shaikpet around 2.30 a.m.
They beat up watchman Caesar and tied his hands using a handkerchief and threatened to kill him if he tried to raise alarm.
“Later, the offenders tried in vain to break open the ATM machine using crowbars. They left the place after some time as they could not break the machine,” Banjara Hills Inspector B. Murali Krishna said.
Two hours later, another gang of three persons entered the ATM centre at HUDA Colony. As they broke the secret camera, the watchman woke up.
The robbers thrashed the watchman when he tried to resist them.
While one stood guard, the other two tried to break open the ATM machine using gas cutters.
However, the trio fled after the Raidurg police night patrolling team entered the area blaring siren, Raidurg Inspector A. Bala Koti said.
