According to sources, the miscreants damaged the CCTV inside the ATM and cut its cable before decamping with the cash machine.
Though it is not clear about who were involved in the loot, police suspect involvement of Rajasthani gang in the crime.
“The criminals in our districts are not equipped with machineries to uproot an ATM. There might be involvement of criminals outside from Odisha. We will arrest the robbers soon,” said Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar.
Twenty-five cards of different banks were used 4,630 times at nine SBI ATMs in Sambalpur and Rengali towns between September 2020 and March 2021, a police officer said on Monday.
The unidentified robbers used exit shutter manipulation fraud' to siphon off the money after manually tampering with the cash dispensing shutters of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
The miscreants would insert their cards and once the PIN and requested amount had been keyed in, the machine would authenticate the card and the process of cash dispensation would begin.
The robbers would then jam the ATM's cash shutter while it was dispensing money, prompting it to generate an error message.
After collecting money from the ATMs, they would claim the same amount from the bank alleging non-receipt of cash.
The money was then refunded by the SBI, the police officer said.
The fraudulent transactions came to the fore after the chief manager of SBI's Main Branch in Sambalpur town filed a complaint regarding the fraud at the Cyber Police Station, an officer said.
"A case has been registered and an investigation is underway," Cyber Police Station inspector Padmasini Meher said.
The miscreants had allegedly uprooted the ATM with the help of a stolen vehicle at Lingipur Housing Board Colony area under Dhauli police limits on April 5.
Of the two arrested accused, one hails from Kolkata and another is said to be a Bangladeshi national. Commissionerate Police said that four other criminals involved in the crime are still absconding.
It was for the first time that miscreants had looted cash by uprooting the ATM in Bhubaneswar. Around Rs 20-25 lakh was allegedly stolen from the ATM. The ATM was later dumped along the Daya river embankment.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the miscreants used a stolen vehicle to transport the ATM from the SBI kiosk. The vehicle belonging to a nursery was stolen the same night by the criminals involved in the loot of the ATM.
The robbers were successful in decamping with the ATM after dismantling some iron rods and disabling its network and ransacking CCTV cameras at the kiosk.
Bhubaneswar ATM loot cracked: This is how City cops carried out ‘Mission Impossible’
The machine was later found vandalised and dumped at an isolated place nearby Housing Board Chhak on Tuesday. All the cash was missing when police arrived at the spot, sources said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the miscreants used a stolen vehicle to transport the ATM from the SBI kiosk. The vehicle belonging to a nursery was stolen last night by the criminals involved in the loot of the ATM. The matter came to light after some passersby found the ATM missing this morning.
It is suspected that the robbers committed the crime late on Monday night. It is first of its kind incident in which miscreants have uprooted the entire ATM in Bhubaneswar. Similar crimes have been reported in other States like Rajasthan in the recent past.
In 2018, unidentified miscreants had uprooted an ATM from Tulasipur area under town police limits in Khurda district.
In the recent incident in Bhubaneswar, the miscreants were successful in decamping with the ATM after dismantling some iron rods and disabling its network and ransacking CCTV cameras at the kiosk. It is suspected that some inter-state criminal gangs might be involved in looting of cash after uprooting the ATM itself. However, the involvement of some ex-staff cannot be ruled out at this point.
Manoranjan Tripathy, technical expert said, “The miscreants had first disabled the network, snapped the CCTV camera connection for which our team suspected that the machine could be down due to network issues. We had informed our team last night and we found the ATM missing this morning.”
Bhubaneswar ACP, Anirudh Routray said, “We will extensively rely on technical and other scientific analysis to crack the case as it is a different type of crime altogether. It is certain that the miscreants who are involved in this are technically sound."
According to Routray, the stolen vehicle used in the ATM loot has been recovered within 2 to 3 km radius of the crime spot.
“Four teams along with cyber officials are working on the case. We suspect the involvement of three persons in the ATM loot case as ascertained from the CCTV footage," Routray added.
The duo identified as Prahalad Das of Soro and Sushant Mallick of Nilagiri in Balasore district is accused of the robbery of Rs 29 lakh from an ATM near Lakshinarayan Temple in Charampa area of Bhadrak district on November 26.
Das and Mallick, who have received bullet injuries in their legs, were initially admitted to District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Bhadrak and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack after their health condition worsened.
Acting on a tipoff about the movement of some wanted criminals, a team from Bhadrak Rural Police Station raided a few locations in the Barapada area before encountering the anti-socials.
The confrontation saw the two criminals open fire at the cops in a bid to escape arrest, however, the Police fired back in retaliation and nabbed the two criminals. Police have recovered four magazines, three mousers and sharp weapons from their possession.
Three police officials, including Bhadrak Rural Police Station Inspector-in-Charge (IIC), Alok Jena and Constable Srikant Jena have also received minor injuries in the gunfight.
Four other people detained in connection with the case are being quizzed by the police. All of them are reported to be involved in multiple cases of crimes.
Earlier on November 26, six miscreants on two motorcycles came to the ATM near the Laxmi Narayan temple in Charampa area and threatened the employees of a cash agency while they were busy in loading cash in the kiosk. They later filled a bag with the notes and fled the spot with around Rs 29 lakh on their motorbikes.
The series loot bid incidents came to the fore after some bank officials reported the incident with the police on Tuesday.
As per sources, the SBI ATM near Police Line and another cash dispensing kiosk near Singhadwar Police Station were among the four ATMs targeted by the anti-socials.
The miscreants have reportedly decamped with the battery of one of the kiosks while some other ATMs were found vandalised due to the break-in. However, if reports are to be believed, miscreants have failed to decamp with any cash from any of the ATMs.
“People in the city are looted and extorted in full public glare and that too in broad daylight. It is unfortunate that an ATM, which is just 20 metres away from Singhadwar Police Station, a high-security zone and where 24X7 patrolling is conducted by the police, was vandalised for the robbery,” said a noted intellectual and servitor at Lord Jagannath Temple, Rajat Pratihari.
Kalucharan Sahu, an official of Indian Bank in Puri confirmed, “Though the looters have damaged currency dispensing machines, they were unable to rob any cash from them.”
Meanwhile, the police have started an investigation into the case after examining CCTV cameras installed near the ATMs.
“A battery of one of the ATMs has been stolen but the miscreants failed to steal cash from the kiosks. We have initiated an investigation into the incident and the burglars will be nabbed soon,” informed Additional SP of Puri, Mahiri Panda.
In footage a masked man can be seen attacking three persons who were busy loading cash inside the kiosk. The miscreant pulls out a gun and threatens the cash loaders before taking away a box load of cash.
With the box he flees the spot immediately with few of his associates who stood in were waiting on motorcycles near the Laxmi Narayan temple in Charampa area.
The Bhadrak police have obtained the CCTV footage and launched a hunt for the robbers whose identification process is on.
"We are questioning the employees engaged in loading the cash and checking the footage minutely. Hopefully we will be able to nab the robber gang soon," said a police official.
Earlier, in the first week of this month, an amount of around Rs 27 lakh had been stolen from three ATMS in Chandia Bazar and Kuansa areas under the Bhadrak rural police limits. The miscreants had set the ATMs on fire after the loot.
Frequent occurrences of such daring robberies have become a reason for concern for banks while raising serious questions over the law and order situation in the district and effectiveness of the police as well.
As per reports, the thieves used a simple device (a dented metal plate) which they plug into the teller machine to block cash from getting dispensed. When the customer leaves the kiosk without cash, the thieves would retrieve the money afterwards by removing the blocking device and make good their escape.
Police sources said the looters who hail from Faridabad in the National Capital Region (NCRwould target ATM kiosks in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. “They operated in several other states as well,” sources said.
As per reports, they managed to loot over Rs 8 Crore from several ATMs in a span of just six months.
The Police had forwarded the three accused to the court following their arrest on Monday.
Manoj Nayak, the ATM Operations Head of TSI (Transaction Solutions International) said, “We have put this ATM under surveillance. It is quite difficult to differentiate a normal customer from a frauduster. The accused had thorough technical knowledge about the operation of the cash dispenser. They not only took away customers’ cash but they also pocketed the money the bank reimburses to the customer during reversal as well.”
The thieves were nabbed by the locals of Old Town on August 25 while trying to loot money from a State Bank of India ATM located at Badhei Banka square in Old Town under Lingaraj Police limits.
The police had recovered Rs 5 Lakh cash and an SUV from them.
When asked, one of the accused said that it takes them around 4 minutes to install the device after which they collect the cash from the ATM.
Though the incident occurred late last night, the matter came to light this morning after a few locals passing by the ATM spotted the broken kiosk and the damaged machine.
On being informed, town police reached the spot and sealed the ATM booth. Sources said the miscreants have vandalised the machine and partially broken the cash drawer but there is no confirmation yet on whether cash has been looted from the machine.
“A scientific team has reached the spot to examine the CCTV cameras installed in and outside the ATM. Based on the reports, we will try to trace the miscreants,” said Sonepur SDPO (Sub-Divisional Police Officer) Mihir Panda.
“The exact cash amount looted can be ascertained only after the investigation” he added.
The criminals reportedly have stolen the hard disk of the CCTV cameras while police have initiated a probe into the incident.
In another incident, unidentified miscreants made an abortive bid to loot cash from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of State Bank of India (SBI) near Akula village under Telkoi police limits in Keonjhar on Saturday night.
As per reports, miscreants tried to break open the iron chest of the ATM. Though the criminals had broken the monitor of the machine, they failed to break the cash drawer of ATM, sources said.
Based on the complaint lodged by the bank authorities, police have started an investigation into the incident.
Preliminary investigation revealed though cash has not been stolen but the criminals were successful in stealing two ATM batteries, informed sources.
The matter came to light after neighbouring shop owners heard a noise and spotted some miscreants near the ATM. Subsequently, they informed the police.
After getting information about the incident, Simulia Police reached the spot and sealed the ATM. As per latest reports,there has been no confirmation on robbery yet.
While the miscreants managed to escape from the spot, a police investigation is currently underway.
Earlier on December 6, unidentified miscreants looted an unspecified amount of money from an Axis Bank ATM at Tala Bazaar Market Complex in Santaragadia area of Balasore. Similarly on December 4 2018, an Indicash ATM was vandalized in the district.
The matter came into light this morning after locals passing by the ATM spotted the broken kiosk and the damaged machine. Subsequently the locals informed the police about the incident.
As per reports, the miscreants allegedly broke the shutter and entered the ATM counter to loot cash.
After being informed, officials of Town Police Station rushed to the spot and sealed the ATM. However, the exact amount of cash looted is yet to be ascertained.
Sources said police examined the CCTV cameras installed in and around the ATM and further investigation is on.
The matter came into light this morning after locals passing by the ATM spotted the broken kiosk and the damaged machine. After finding the kiosk in complete disarray, the locals subsequently, informed the police.
As per sources, the miscreants allegedly used a gas cutter and as they ran out of fuel they tried to set the ATM counter on fire before fleeing the spot.
On being informed, officials of Town Police Station rushed to the spot and sealed the ATM. However, there has been no confirmation on robbery yet.
Police investigation is underway.
As per the locals, the youth was first spotted by one Badri Narayan Dhala of the area who immediately raised an alarm following which other villagers also rushed to the spot.
Dhala stated that the miscreant was not alone and his associates somehow managed to escape the spot.
Getting information, Bhandaripokhari police reached the spot and rescued the miscreant who was found lying in an unconscious state outside the ATM.
“They were trying to break open the ATM as it was found damaged. The one who was caught and thrashed was hiding in a field close to the ATM,” informed a police official.
Police also seized a Maruti Omni van that was parked some 200 mts away from the ATM and detained the driver for interrogation, said sources.
Further investigation into the incident is on.
According to sources, a few locals this morning spotted the machine has been uprooted.
"I heard some noise late night yesterday. It is suspected that a group of miscreants, who had come in a four wheeler, uprooted the machine. The incident took place at around 1AM," said village guard Surendra Nayak.
"On Friday there was a closing balance of Rs 3 lakh. We suspect the miscreants have looted around Rs 2 lakh cash," informed ATM officer of TATA Indicash Sanjay Mohanty.
Meanwhile, police have started an investigation into the matter.
The matter came to light today after bank authorities lodged a written complaint in connection with the incident.
As per reports, miscreants tried to break open the iron chest of the ATM. Though the criminals had cut the wires of the CCTV cameras, they fled the spot after failing to break the cash drawer of ATM, sources said.
Based on the complaint lodged by the bank authorities, police have started an investigation into the incident.
The 10- member gang hailing from Bihar and Jharkhand had looted people of more than Rs 1 crore in different online fraud incidents. At least 30 cases have been registered against the gang members in Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Angul districts, reports said.
Acting on a tipoff, police nabbed the gang while it was hatching plan to carry out a robbery in a bank near Hockey Chhak here.
As per the modus operandi, the looters used to apply some kind of glue on switches of the ATM machines leaving them defunct.
Miscreants waiting at the Kiosk would offer to help the card holders and deceivingly swipe the card on their own swiping machines thus transferring the money to a different account.
The looters basically targeted the ATMs located in village and mining areas, informed police. "We are interrogating the accused to elicit more information about the network. There could be more members in the gang," police informed.
During investigation it was revealed that the looters used to visit the ATM counters and somehow take the victims' cards and swipe it in a skimmer machine. Once they swipe the ATM card in the skimmer machine, the entire data of the card were getting copied. Then they observed the cards' pin and later used to transfer money, said Panposh SDPO Padmini Sahoo.
"Awareness among people is necessary to stop such crimes. One should ensure that no other persons enter the ATM counters," she said, adding that a total of Rs 4.2 lakhs have been recovered from the possession of the miscreants.
According to reports, the accused identified as Subodh Ray of Kumursal village in the neighbouring State entered the ATM kiosks Saturday night.
Sources said Ray had already damaged the CCTV camera and was trying to break open the ATM with an intention to rob cash.
Later he was caught by RPF personnel while doing rounds at the station, sources said.
Earlier on June 13, a loot bid at the State Bank of India ATM near Ranipatna Chhak in Balasore town was foiled after a patrolling team of police reached the spot just in time.
It is pertinent to mention here that there has been a rise in the incidents of loot of cash from ATMs at different parts of the State.
Though the involvement of an inter-state gang is suspected behind series of ATM loot incidents, police are yet to nab the miscreants involved.
Although the miscreants managed to damage the ATM and almost broke open the machine, they could not succeed in taking away the cash as a patrol van doing rounds, reached the area around 2 pm. On fear of being nabbed, the miscreants immediately fled the scene.
Two other SBI ATMs in Sunhata and ITI Chhak in the town were looted by miscreants in a similar fashion earlier this month.
Involvement of an inter-state gang in the loot bid cannot be ruled out, informed police officials adding that CCTV footage installed at the ATM kiosk will be collected to elicit details about the miscreants.
This was again evident after unidentified miscreants decamped with nearly Rs 12 lakh from an ATM of Indian Overseas Bank at Chanrahat under Tirtol police limits in Jagatsinghpur district on Friday night.
The matter came to light today after some locals noticed smoke and informed the concerned officials of the bank.
"Rs 12 lakh has been stolen from the ATM as we had loaded Rs 17 lakh in the ATM and transaction to the tune of Rs 5 lakh was made yesterday," said bank manager, Harish Chandra Nayak.
Nayak further informed that the matter came to light at around 6:30 am today. The miscreants have looted the cash after breaking the ATM using gas cutters.
Besides, the miscreants have also burnt the CCTV cameras installed inside the ATM counter.
Senior officials of police have reached the spot along with forensic team for further investigation into the incident.
As per reports, on February 1, Jitendra Sahu of Mohana had gone to withdraw cash from the SBI ATM near Mohana bazar area here when some unidentified miscreants entered the ATM and snatched his debit card. They allegedly withdrew over Rs 2,00,000 from Sahu’s account.
“The miscreants have withdrawn a total of Rs 2,38,500 from my account between February 1 and 5. Money has also been transferred to the account of one Simadri Behera from my account,” alleged Sahu.
Sahu approached the SBI Branch office in the region to block his debit card and also lodged a police complaint. However, the police are yet to nab the miscreants.
While the SBI officials have assured to take appropriate steps in this regard, police said that the investigation is on to nab the miscreants.
Lack of security guards at the ATMs is making people vulnerable to such loots, said Mohana IIC Prashant Behera.
"We have asked the banks in the region to deploy security guards and install high quality CCTVs at the ATMs to avoid such incidents. Besides, we have sought CCTV footages from the bank following which we will take further action," Behera said.
Earlier on January 29, unidentified miscreants had reportedly withdrawn Rs 58,000 through the card of a youth on gunpoint at one of the ATM counters in the district.
The matter came to light after a few locals spotted the monitor of the ATM broken and alerted police about the incident on Tuesday.
Senior police officials have reached the spot and have started a probe into the incident.
It is suspected that miscreants used gas cutters to break open the ATM machine but somehow the machine caught fire.
Soon after the incident, miscreants fled the spot leaving behind the gas cylinder, auto-rickshaw and other equipment they had carried along with them.
"We noticed at around 4.25am, fire tenders were engaged in dousing the flames. When we asked them they said the ATM caught fire during a loot bid. Being a crowded place, it is surprising how miscreants even attempted to loot," said a local.
However, whether the cash in ATM was looted or burnt into ashes has not been confirmed though police has initiated an investigation into the incident.
On January 20, SBI and Canara Bank ATMs were allegedly looted by miscreants, while the next day on January 21, one more ATM in the civil township was reportedly found broken.
As per sources, the miscreants broke the ATM machine with the help of a digging bar lying near one of the houses in the locality and allegedly looted all the cash from the machine.
Meanwhile, on getting information, police along with a scientific team and Bank Engineer reached the spot and initiated an investigation into the incident.
The exact of amount of cash looted has not been ascertained yet, sources said.
In another similar incident last month, a State Bank ATM was allegedly looted by miscreants near medical area of Bahanaga block of Balasore district. Keeping in view to the need of its customers on festive day- Christmas, lakh of rupees was deposited in the ATM machine. However, miscreants allegedly used a gas cutter for the ATM heist and looted it.
According to reports, keeping in view to the need of its customers on festive day- Christmas, lakh of rupees was deposited in the ATM machine.
As per sources, miscreants allegedly used a gas cutter for the ATM heist and looted it.
Meanwhile, Soro police reached the spot and launched an investigation into the matter.
Similarly, on Dec 11 of this month, miscreants allegedly looted money from an Indicash ATM in Nilagiri area of Balasore district. The miscreants decamped with Rs 20,000 and various other items from a grocery and a betel shop in the area.
Shop owners who are in a state of panic after the incident, alleged that lackadaisical attitude of the police administration has led to such lapses.
"Along with the ATM two to three shops were looted. We are under panic as we may face similar situation in future," said a local businessman Ratnakar Nanda.
"Police patrolling in the area is not conducted as earlier. It has been stopped since six months and despite repeated complaints to IIC and SP no steps are being taken,” said another businessman Kapil Samal.
The supervisor of the ATM management company said the amount of money looted can be known after an engineer who has to be brought from outside the state makes an assessment.
"The ATM has been ransacked. If the miscreants have been able to take any money or not will be clear after an assessment of the engineer," said supervisor of the ATM management company, Debasish Das.
Meanwhile, on-the-spot investigation is being carried out by police personnel from Ishwarpur outpost.
https://youtu.be/eBwh3-PFo0Q
The youth, identified as Kamal Charan Meher, is a second year BSc student of the university. He is a resident of Patnagarh town in Bolangir district.
As per reports, a police van patrolling the area nabbed Meher while he was trying to withdraw money from the ATM.
"During interrogation, Meher said he downloaded a YouTube tutorial on withdrawing money from ATMs without using any card," said sub-divisional police officer Gagarin Mohanty, adding that interrogation is still on.
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Shockingly, the miscreants looted the cash from the ATM located at Taraboi under Jatni police limits late on Monday night by hacking its password.
After a written complaint, the Jatni police have started investigation into the incident.
According to sources, police have established that two persons were involved in the robbery after analyzing the Close Circuit Television Camera (CCTV) footage. Moreover, the DCP informed that they have identified the gang involved in the robbery. A special team of the Commissionerate Police is currently investigating the case with help from forensic and cyber crime experts.
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“Primarily it is a case of cyber crime and the miscreants have used some technology to access the servers of the ATM. From preliminary investigations it is suspected that these people are professionals,” said Cuttack DCP, Sanjeev Arora.
Notably, in a startling robbery, the miscreants had looted Rs 17.48 lakh from the ATM. The loot came into light when the bank authorities checked the statement.
A case in this regard was registered in Lalbagh Police Station.
The CCTV camera installed inside the ATM chamber and hard disk was also taken away by the looters in a bid to destroy evidence.
The amount of the loot money has not yet been confirmed. Police have rushed to the spot in the morning and started investigation.
The 3 ATMs have been identified as of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and SBI ATMs.
Police have reached the spot and began investigation into the theft. Sources informed that preliminary investigations reveal that as much as Rs 27 lakh have been looted from these three ATMs.
“ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and a SBI ATM in Kuansa have been robbed. All of the ATMs have been prised open through gas cutters. Investigations have started and we are hopeful of getting some clue soon,” said Bhadrak SP, Asit Kumar Mohanty.
Frequent occurrences of such loots are of a concern for both bank officials and the police administration. Recently, similar to this incident, ATMs in Matha Sahi and Remuna were robbed of cash worth Rs 59 lakh. Police is also trying to establish a link between the Bhadrak and Balasore robberies.
Reports said the miscreants after entering into the ATM counter in the late night and damaged the CCTV camera. Later they opened the front side of the ATM by cutting it with a gas cutter and took away the cash.
Talking to OTV, Saroj Chandra Mohanty, an advocate and a resident of Gandarpur locality, said he came to know about the incident in the morning.
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“I was on a morning walk at about 6 AM today when I found the shutter of the ATM counter closed. After I opened the shutter, I saw the front side of the ATM counter remained open and the wires inside the counter completely gutted. Soon I rang up the Chauliaganj police who rushed to the spot with a forensic team and sniffer dog,” Mohanty added.
Stating that this is for the first time that such incident has taken place in Gandarpur locality, he said if the commissionerate police properly conduct night patrolling especially where there are banks and ATM counters, there would be such activities as the anti-socials would not dare to commit such crime.
Koraput: Unidentified miscreants tried to break open an ATM but failed to steal cash from it at Borigumma in Odisha's Koraput district yesterday, police said.
"We suspect the attempt was made by miscreants early in the morning. Police patrol team had found the ATM in good condition around midnight on Monday," said Uttam Mohanty, inspector-in-charge of the Borigumma police station.
"We are in contact with bank officials to get details of the cash inside the ATM and whether the CCTV was working or not," he said.
The incident took place at Chhatta chowk on the NH-5(A).
The thieves broke open the ATM around 2.45 AM by using a gas cutter, Derabish police station Inspector Umakant Nayak said.
"The exact amount of money stolen from the ATM is yet to be ascertained. A team is leading the probe in the matter," he said.
"It is the handiwork of professional criminals," the officer said, adding the CCTV camera installed at the ATM kiosk is intact and police will go through its footage.
According to reports, locals first spotted the ATM of Axis Bank vandalized early morning and subsequently informed the police who rushed to the spot and started investigation.
It is being suspected that around Rs 10 to 15 lakh might have been looted from the ATM. However, the exact amount of cash stolen from the kiosk will be ascertained after a detailed investigation, said sources.
Police examined the CCTV cameras installed inside the ATM and around the kiosk. Further information is awaited.
On December 4, a similar loot was carried out near Pakhar Chhak on Soro-Anantapur road in the district.
According to reports, locals passing by the ATM spotted the broken kiosk cabin and damaged machine. Subsequently, they informed the police.
Later, officials of Town Police station rushed to the spot and sealed the ATM, however, there was no confirmation of robbery as per latest information.
Earlier on September 15, some miscreants made an unsuccessful attempt to loot an ATM of UCO bank at Jatni in Khurda.
The deadline for putting money in the ATMs located in Naxal-hit areas is 4 pm while private cash handling agencies must collect money from the banks in the first half of the day and transport notes only in armoured vehicles.
In a notification, the Home Ministry said the new Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) would come into effect from February 8, 2019 in view of the spurt in incidents of attacks on cash vans, cash vaults, ATM frauds and other internal frauds leading to increased sense of insecurity.
There are over 8,000 privately owned cash vans plying across the country, operated by non-bank private agencies, and they handle over Rs 15,000 crore daily on behalf of banks.
Some times, the private agencies keep currency overnight at their cash vaults.
"No cash loading of the ATMs or cash transportation activities shall be done after 9 pm in urban areas, after 6 pm in rural areas and before 9 am or after 4 pm in the districts notified by the central government as Left Wing Extremism affected areas," the notification said.
The agencies shall provide private security for the cash transportation with the requisite number of trained staff, every cash van shall have one driver, two armed security guards, two ATM officers or custodians.
One armed guard must sit in the front along with the driver and another in the rear portion of the van while in transit.
During loading or unloading, nature's call, tea or lunch break, at least one armed security guard shall remain present with the cash van all the time.
The ex-serviceman, otherwise eligible, may preferably be appointed for providing security for cash transportation.
Every cash transportation shall be carried out only in secured cash vans fitted with GPS tracking device and it must be ensured that no cash van carries cash of more than Rs 5 crore per trip.
No private security agency shall appoint anyone for the cash transportation unless the person has undergone thorough antecedent check like police, Aadhaar and residence verifications, previous employer check, credit history check and fidelity insurance.
Each of the cash boxes shall be secured to the floor with separate chains and locks that can be opened only by using separate keys kept with different custodians.
The cash van shall be provided with a small CCTV system with at least five days recording facility and three cameras installed in front, rear and inside of the cabin.
A security alarm with GSM based auto-dialer shall be provided with a motorised siren.
The cash van shall be equipped with hooter, fire extinguishers and emergency lights to ensure quick reaction in case of an attack.
The private security agency will ensure that all cash handling, including counting, sorting, and bundling activities shall be carried out in secured premises in accordance with specific guidelines.
The premises shall be designed to include two physically independent areas, one for general office purpose and other for secured cash processing and handling activities and it shall accommodate space for cash deposit, collection, sorting, counting and delivery and dispatch of cash on secured cash vans.
[With PTI Inputs]
In an audacious robbery in Bhadrak, unidentified miscreants last night used bombs to loot cash from an SBI ATM located few metres away from the Moto police station in Chandbali area. Seeing a police patrolling vehicle approaching the ATM, the robbers also hurled bombs at the vehicle and decamped with cash. Though no police official was hurt in the attack, the ATM kiosk cabin was completely vandalized due to the bombing, informed sources.
Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation to nab the miscreants involved in the loot. The exact amount of cash looted is yet to be ascertained.
In a similar incident in Kalahandi district, thieves looted cash from an Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) ATM at Chari Chhak in Dharamgarh area late night yesterday. The miscreants allegedly used a gas cutter to break the ATM and looted cash.
However, another such loot attempt was foiled at Bastipada area in Kalahandi last night. A group of miscreants was trying to uproot the SBI ATM in the area when suddenly police rushed to the spot. Spotting the police vehicle, the miscreants stopped vandalizing the ATM and fled the spot, added sources.
Meanwhile, police sources are suspecting that the same gang was involved in both the loots while a probe is underway to nab the miscreants. Kalahandi SP Gavali Parag Harsad also reached the spot to initiate an investigation.
According to reports, the matter came to light after some locals found the ATM wide open and a glass cutter lying next to it in the morning.
Subsequently, they informed the police about the incident. After getting information, Gopalpur police rushed to the spot and launched an investigation into the case.
While the exact amount of looted cash is yet to be ascertained, a probe has begun in the incident and the CCTV footages of the ATM are being examined.
In December last year, miscreants had looted an unspecified amount of money from an ATM at Tala Bazaar Market Complex in Santaragadia area of Balasore after breaking it open with the help of a gas-cutter late.
According to sources, a miscreant tried to break open the ATM machine after entering the kiosk at around 4 am today.
However, after hearing an explosion-like sound from inside the ATM, a man from the nearby gym rushed to see what actually has happened.
As soon he raised an alarm and shouted 'Police Police' to scare the miscreant, the latter attacked him and fled the scene. Till last report was filed, the locals alleged that despite having informed the police about the loot bid, none reached to look into the matter.
In January, a similar incident had happened when a group of miscreants attempted to loot the SBI at Jamankira in Sambalpur. Though the miscreants entered the bank premises by breaking open the windows, they had to abort their plans after security alarm of the bank went off.
All the accused are residents of Haryana and they had come to Odisha in a truck. A total of Rs 18.5 lakh cash, two trucks, one car and a gas cutter have been seized from their possession, said police.
All the accused will be taken into remand for further interrogation, Informed Angul SP Jagmohan Meena.
“The miscreants attempted to loot two ATMs in the district and manage to steal Rs 27.9 lakh from one. We have seized Rs 18.5 lakh from their possession and our investigation into the matter is on,” said Meena.
A special team headed by Angul Sub Divisional Police Officer was investigating the ATM loot case.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)
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According to sources, a team of police arrested the criminal and seized Rs 42,000 of cash from his possession. Police sources say that there are as many as eight cases pending against the accused.
The looter used to target senior citizens to commit the crimes, sources in the police said.
This is a developing story.
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According to maintenance employee Utam Kumar Banua the miscreants used a gas cutter machine to break open the ATM.
"The loot happened late night and exact time of it could be traced from the CCTV footage," said Banua.
An FIR has been lodged in the nearby police station about the case. Police have launched an investigation into the matter.
Commissionerate police said that lack of coordination between the bank authorities and the firm engaged in the maintaning and loading cash in the ATM led to the crime.
"The ATM counter was shut since October 9 night and there was no security facility. Someone having technical skill might be involved in the loot," said Zone 6 ACP Prakash Chandra Pal.
"It is suspected that the looters were from outside Odisha. There might be involvement of some locals," he added.
Recently, a series of loot incidents has sent alarm bells ringing in the Commissionerate Police. The State Capital of Odisha on September 28 had witnessed a robbery of around Rs 10 lakh cash on gunpoint.
Armed miscreants decamped with the cash from Bank of India’s (BOI) Barimunda branch in Mancheswar area of Bhubaneswar in full public glare.
The incident happened just a fortnight after unidentified miscreants allegedly looted Rs 2.78 lakh at gunpoint from the Indian Overseas Bank branch in the Infocity area in Bhubaneswar.
On September 8, miscreants looted Rs 5 lakh cash from a woman near Trinath Bazaar Chhak in Phulnakhara in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
Briefing mediapersons, the Commissioner of Police, Sudhansu Sarangi informed that the police held discussion with around 25 representatives of nationalised and private banks in the twin city and advised them to update their security systems and be more alert in order to avoid theft in banks and ATMs.
The Commissionerate Police has asked bank authorities to install CCTV cameras in their concerned branches and ATMs and ensure that they are working properly, said Sarangi.
Besides, the banks have also been asked to update and repair their alert system so that immediate assistance can be sent in case of any emergency.
"As bank loots have increased in the past few days, the bank authorities should keep their security system on high alert mode. They should ensure their CCTV cameras and alert system are working fine and be in touch with police in order to report any theft immediately," said the Deputy Zonal Manager of State Bank of India, Ambika Prasad Mishra.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
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The duo, identified as Samarjyot Singh and Zafar Sadiq, from Punjab and Kerala, respectively, were part of an inter-State gang that was involved in committing loot at ATM kiosks in different parts of the country, Twin City Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi said on Friday.
A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act had also been registered against them in Bangalore where they live and plan out their strategy to carry out loots across the country, he said.
The duo was arrested in connection with the Bhubaneswar ATM loot case by the Vizag police earlier on Friday and efforts are on to bring them to the city after obtaining their remand from a court in the southern city, Sarangi said.
The commissioner said that the duo would conduct detail recce of the targeted ATM to verify its’ security measures before striking at an opportune time.
The came to Bhubaneswar on October 5, lived in a hotel for the next four days before they struck at the ATM Kiosk in Infocity locality on October 10 night. They decamped with Rs 27 lakh stored in the cash dispensing machine.
Sarangi said that the criminals led a luxurious life and changed their location constantly in order to dodge surveillance of investigating agencies.
After looting cash from the ATM in Bhubaneswar, they went to Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore before getting holed up in Vizag. Their questioning has revealed that they had also looted around Rs 9 lakh from an ATM counter in Vizag during their stay.
The criminals had used a gas cutter to break into the ATM in Bhubaneswar and decamped with the loot on a hired motorcycle, Sarangi added.
One ATM is of Axix Bank while another was of a private finance company at Bagudi Bazar in Soro.
The miscreants used gas cutters to break open the machines in both the incidents, locals said. The exact amount stolen from two kiosks has not yet been ascertained.
On being informed, police rushed to the spot and started investigation.
Police suspected inter-state gang in the loot of ATMs, who have executed such crimes in different parts of the country. Police are investigating every aspect of the robberies.
Local shopkeepers attributed such robberies to lack of police patrolling. "Earlier similar incidents have also taken place in the town. But, the robberies and snatching incidents are on rise due to police inaction. A few days ago, miscreants had also looted mobile phones worth Rs lakhs from my outlet," a local shopkeeper said.
A similar incident had taken place in Bhubaneswar in last October when miscreants had stolen over Rs 20 lakh from the ATM of United Bank Of India. They also had used gas cutters to break open the machine.
In same month, bike-borne miscreants looted Rs 20 lakh from UCO Bank in Bhograi of same district. The robbers looted the cash after terrorising the bank employees at gun-points.
Last month, the Commissionerate police had arrested two robbers who were members of an inter-state gang in Bhubaneswar. They were involved in an ATM loot case at Patia in the Capital city.
According to sources, the miscreants broke open the machine of Axis Bank on Thursday night with the help of gas cutter. They damaged the cash dispenser's camera attached on top of it. However, the exact amount of money stolen from the ATM has not been ascertained.
After receiving the information, Jaleswar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and inspector-in-charge of Kamarda police station reached the spot and launched an investigation into the incident.
On Wednesday night, some miscreants had looted lakhs of rupees at Soro in the district by breaking open two ATMs of Axis Bank and another finance company.
Police suspected involvement of inter-state gang in the loot of the ATMs, who have executed such crimes in different parts of the country.
A similar incident had taken place in Bhubaneswar last October when miscreants had stolen over Rs 20 lakh from the ATM of United Bank Of India. They also had used gas cutters to break open the machine.
In the same month, bike-borne miscreants had looted Rs 20 lakh from UCO Bank in Bhograi. The robbers had looted the cash after terrorising the bank employees at gun-points.
Last month, the Commissionerate police had arrested two robbers who were members of an inter-state gang in Bhubaneswar. They were involved in an ATM loot case at Patia in the Capital city.
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)
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Odisha: Another Bank Looted At Gunpoint, Miscreants Decamp With Rs 20 Lakh
On December 15, some miscreants broke into an ATM of the State Bank of India (SBI) under Motanga Police limits in Dhenkanal district, and looted around Rs 26 lakh cash from the ATM after dismantling it with the help of gas cutters.
Taking advantage of non-deployment of any security guard, one of the miscreants first entered the ATM kiosk and after a brief recce, he snapped the wires of the CCTV camera in a bid to destroy the evidence.
However, Police launched an investigation based on the short footage captured by the CCTV before the miscreants made it dysfunctional.
Sources said following a probe and subsequent credible information, police have managed to nab four persons involved in the loot of cash from the ATM. However, the mastermind of the crime is still at large. Efforts are underway to nab the prime culprit, police said.
On many occasions, it was found that most of the inter-state robbers’ gang have targeted ATM kiosks in the State knowing that it is easy to escape after committing the crime.
On October 10, criminals had looted around Rs 27 lakhs from the Punjab National Bank’s ATM under Infocity
Police Station in Bhubaneswar. Two inter-State robbers - Samarjyot Singh who hailed from Punjab and Zafar Sadiq a native of Kerala - were arrested. Both the robbers were nabbed from Vizag.
Prior to that on August 15, seven persons from Baloda Bazar district in Chhattisgarh were arrested in connection with loot of around Rs 29 lakh from SBI ATM in Angul district.
All the accused, who are residents of Haryana, had come to Odisha in a truck. A total of Rs 18.5 lakh cash, two trucks, one car and a gas cutter were seized from their possession. The miscreants had attempted to loot two ATMs in the district and managed to steal Rs 27.9 lakh from one, police said.
(Edited By Devbrat Patnaik)
Separate teams of police have reached the theft sites and launched investigation. Bank officials also rushed to the spot and assisted the police in the investigation.
According to reports, miscreants used gas cutters to break open the machines. They also damaged the cash dispensers and burnt the CCTV cameras to destroy evidence.
"We have pressed the scientific team in to services and are examining the CCTV footages. Prima facie, miscreants used gas cutter to break open the ATMs. One ATM had over 19 lakh cash while another had more than Rs 23 lakh cash," said Ranjan Dey, SDPO, Pattamundai.
Bank officials said that around 50 lakh cash of various denominations were deposited in both the ATMs on Tuesday. The machines had already some cash in them, sources said.
"Around 23.14 lakh cash were in one ATM while another had 18.68 lakh. Almost all cashes were stolen. We have provided the CCTV footage to the police who have already launched investigation pressing forensic officials into services," SBI channel Manager Bipin Behera said.
It may be noted that the miscreants had looted two jewellery shops in Rajnagar area in the same district a couple of days ago. The fresh ATM theft has triggered panic among local residents.