Culprits attempted to loot cash from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of Lakshmi Vilas Bank in the city after damaging the machine in the early hours of Saturday.
However, cash remained intact as the criminals could not break open the portion inside which the currencies were kept. The bold strike by the culprits took place in the city’s prime Thillai Nagar area where the ATM is located adjacent to the bank’s branch office in the fifth cross. Thillai Nagar police station is located a couple of streets away from the bank.
The burglary attempt came to light when the bank’s branch manager Ramesh, the complainant, residing in the same locality, found the ATM broken open during a morning walk, police sources said.
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The culprits, according to police, switched off the lights and then damaged the fixed surveillance camera installed on the ATM premises to conceal their identity.
The top portion of the machine with a built-in camera was destroyed . Another ATM on the same premises was left untouched .
Police believe that the offence could have taken place after midnight. Finger print experts lifted some prints from the scene. The sources said a hazy picture of a person obtained from the built-in camera in the machine would be developed so as to ascertain the identity.
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A senior police officer said there was no security guard for the bank and the ATM. Thillai Nagar police have registered a case under IPC section 457 (trespass by night to commit offence) and 511 (attempt to commit offence).
A couple of months ago, burglars struck at an ATM of Punjab National Bank at Kollidam Tollgate on the outskirts and looted over Rs. 21 lakh. The case is under investigation.