Kochi: ATM robbers struck at four places in the state in the wee hours of Friday and decamped with a total of Rs 35 lakh from two counters — that of State Bank of India near Irumbanam, Kochi, and South Indian Bank at Koratti junction near Chalakudy.
However, their bid to loot the Vembally branch of South Indian Bank and the Monipally branch of State Bank of India near Kuravilangadu, Kottayam district, failed.
The burglars took away Rs 25 lakh from the SBI ATM near Irumpanam on seaport-airport road and Rs 10.86 lakh from the SIB ATM at Koratti junction. The modus operandi in both cases were similar.
According to the cops, the suspects in the Kochi incident came in a pick-up van and broke open the machine using a gas cutter around 3.30 am on Friday.
The forensic team and dog squad examined the spot in the morning.
“From the CCTV visuals, three persons were found involved in the robbery. An investigation is underway to identify the accused,” an officer said.
The ATM machine is situated some 25 metres off the road north of Vilakku junction.
“A tree in front of the ATM helped the burglars to execute the operation easily as it blocked a clear view of the ATM. The camera system was also compromised as the burglars sprayed a liquid on the secondary camera,” said K.R. Biju, sub-inspector, Hill Palace police.
“At the time of the robbery, a security alert was sent by the machine to Mumbai as the ATM was outsourced by the ministry of finance to an external agency. But the bank officials reached the spot only by 9.30 a.m.,” he added.
The police suspect the involvement of a professional group in the robbery.
The SIB ATM machine at Koratti was found broken and the cash tray was pulled out.
The Koratti police on Friday evening traced a Mahindra pick-up van from the Government High School ground in Chalakudy, which was used by the robbers. Police sources said that the van was stolen from Kodimatah in Kottayam.
The robbers spray-painted the CCTV cameras, but in one of the CCTV visuals collected by the cops, the face of a culprit is seen clearly.
The forensic experts have collected the finger prints from the ATM and the vehicle.
The Kuravilangadu police registered two cases against two unidentified West Bengal natives who are suspected to have attempted to rob the ATMs at Vembally and Monipally at 1.30 a.m.
The robbers sprayed paint at the CCTV cameras, but their pictures were recorded, said police sources.
