Bengaluru, 1 March

In an ATM heist, unidentified criminals stole Rs 30 lakh from a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM in Sulibele village, near Devanahalli Cross, Bengaluru Rural, during the early hours of Saturday.

The incident occurred around 3.30am when a group of miscreants, travelling in a vehicle with an Andhra Pradesh registration number, used a gas cutter to break into the ATM machine and make off with the cash. CCTV footage revealed their method, though the gang had attempted to obscure their identities by spraying paint on the cameras.

Several nearby residents were awakened by the noise from the cutting tools, but by the time they arrived at the scene, the thieves had already fled.

Following the robbery, officials from SBI, along with local police, including senior officers, inspected the site. Bengaluru Rural SP CK Baba visited the location to review the investigation, and forensic teams were deployed to gather fingerprints and other evidence.

The culprits are believed to have escaped via the Hoskote route, and a case has been registered at Sulibele Police Station.

This incident highlights concerns over ATM security, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, where many kiosks lack night guards or functional alarms, making them easy targets. Despite a spate of similar robberies in recent months, including incidents in Mangaluru and Bidar, little has been done to enhance security measures.