In one of the major bank heists reported from the city in recent times, burglars broke into Deccan Grameena Bank at Ghatkesar and stole Rs. 35.25 lakh cash and gold early on Tuesday.
According to police, two or three burglars entered the bank after removing the iron rods of a window with the help of a jack tool. The gang members were prepared for the job with gas cutters and other equipment, police said.
“Initially, the burglars entered the vault room and broke lockers of two account holders. On not finding anything of great value, they dropped the plan. The burglars then moved to an adjacent room where they broke open the cash chest with the help of gas cutter and took away Rs. 35.25 lakh cash,” DCP Malkajgiri, R Rama Rajeshwari said.
She added that the bank management did not lock the door separating locker room and cash chest.
The burglars also tried to break open the gold chest but could not succeed due to police movement outside the bank, officials said. While fleeing with the stolen property, the burglars also took away the digital video recorder (DVR) which records feed from four security cameras in the bank.
A fire broke out in the bank after the robbery. Burglars may not have put off the gas cutter in their bid to flee which caused the fire, Ms. Rajeshwari explained.
The police initially received information about the fire mishap at around 7 a.m. and alerted the fire department. A fire tender rushed to the spot and began fire fighting. It was only when cops found gas cutters and other equipment after dousing the fire, did they realise it was a heist. Monkey caps, chilly powder and a gas cutter were recovered from the premises.
Police suspect that the burglary could be the handiwork of a professional gang which carried out robberies in Mahabubnagar district in Telangana, and in Chittor, Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh. “We have formed three special teams and they are pursuing different leads,” the official said.
Ms. Rajeshwari revealed that Ghatkesar Inspector T. Ravinder met bank officials a few days ago and advised them to post a security guard. However, the bank did not comply with, pending approval from its head office.
Published - December 09, 2014 11:28 pm IST
