Hyderabad: An audacious ATM heist rocked Huzurnagar in Suryapet district in the early hours of Sunday, with unidentified miscreants decamping with Rs 20 lakh in cash.
The incident occurred around 2.30 am at an SBI ATM on Lingagiri Road, where a gang of thieves arrived in a Fortuner SUV. Armed with a gas cutter, they broke open the machine, looted the cash, and then set the ATM ablaze before fleeing the scene. CCTV footage captured the entire operation.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Based on the CCTV footage, teams are tracking the culprits.
There are four SBI ATMs in Huzurnagar town. Owing to a rise in thefts, the local police had earlier advised banks to bolster security measures, including installing CCTV cameras and either closing ATMs at night or appointing security guards. Huzurnagar CI Charamandaraju had warned banks repeatedly.
Just four days ago, on May 27, SI Muttayya held a meeting with all banks operating ATMs in the area, urging them to take preventive steps. Despite these warnings, banks allegedly failed to implement the recommended measures, leading to this latest heist.
