the goan I network
MAPUSA
A gang of six unidentified men took off with an unguarded Automated Teller Machine of a private sector bank and escaped with around Rs 10 lakh at Colvale near Mapusa in early hours of Sunday.
Police later found the broken ATM around three kilometres away from the spot of crime near a remote hillock.
According to police the theft occurred between 2 to 2.45 am early morning but the incident was reported to Mapusa Police by complainant, Abhijit Lotlikar, Branch Manager of HDFC Bank at around 11.30 am on Sunday.
The ATM booth was located next to the HDFC Branch office opposite Ram Mandir near Colvale bazaar.
Although the ATM booth did not have a security guard, it was well covered with surveillance cameras, police said.
As per CCTV images, four men entered the ATM booth and completed the job of removing the sole machine with the cash in less than 30 minutes. They are believed to have pulled down the shutter while removing the machine.
“It’s a professional job. They lifted the whole machine and placed it in a mini tempo before fleeing from the spot,” PI Navlesh Dessai informed The Goan.
According to images captured by the surveillance cameras, the men, wore raincoats and covered their face with cloth.
Police said the men were in the age group of 25 to 35.
Forensic experts visited the crime scene and recovered fingerprints but a police dog pressed into service failed to pick up a trail.
“Investigations are on. We have alerted police stations in neighbouring States and provided details we have sourced from the cameras,” Dessai said.
Police sources informed that bank officials had replenished the ATM with cash of Rs 10 lakh on Saturday morning.
The PI informed that earlier, twice attempts were made to break-into the same ATM around a year back.
A case under section 380 r/w 34 of the IPC has been registered on unknown persons at Mapusa Police Station. PI Navlesh Dessai is investigating further.
