In a daring heist, unidentified robbers uprooted an entire ATM machine loaded with nearly Rs 7 lakh and decamped with it from outer Delhi's Narela area last night.
The incident came to light today morning when a sweeper saw the ATM booth of Union Bank of India, in Sanautha village of Narela completely ransacked and the machine missing. There were only broken wires of CCTV cameras dangling in the cabin. He then raised an alarm and informed police.
Police suspect that at least four to six people must have been involved in the brazen robbery as the thieves not just took away the ATM machine but also the CCTV cameras installed in the premises. The ATM booth was not guarded and thieves broke the streetlight installed nearby before carrying out the brazen robbery.
"It seems that the robbers had recceed the spot well before striking. They knew that the ATM booth was not guarded and the stretch where it was located remains mainly deserted. The ATM machine contained Rs 6,94,200 when it was stolen," said a senior police official.
A case under Sections 407 and 380 of the IPC have been registered at Narela Police Station and further investigations are on, police said.
Crime and forensic teams visited the site. Police is scanning the CCTV footage of nearby localities and roads leading to the spot where the ATM machine was located to identify the vehicle which the robbers might have possibly used to ferry the machine from the spot.
"They would have definitely used a pick up truck or a loading auto to carry the machine. They must have realised that if they try to break the machine on the spot, the sound may blow up their cover. So they decided to take it away with them and break the cash chest throw industrial or gas cutters," the official added.
Police spoke to a number of residents of the area but could not find any eyewitness nor did anybody hear any sound. Several teams have been formed to work on clues to nab the robbers, police said.
