Hyderabad: An ATM theft in Nizamabad district early Saturday destroyed more than Rs 37 lakh in cash after burglars torched two bank machines.
Police said the incident took place within a few hours at two locations in Nizamabad. The attackers first targeted an ATM of State Bank of India at Sai Nagar. They tried to force open the machine using a gas cutter. When the attempt failed, the cash inside caught fire. Nearly Rs 10 lakh turned to ashes.
Later, the same group moved to Arya Nagar and attacked an ATM of District Cooperative Central Bank. The burglars again failed to open the machine. They then set it on fire, destroying around Rs 27 lakh stored inside.
ATM theft captured in CCTV footage
Police said CCTV footage revealed that the accused conducted reconnaissance before the crime. They used motorcycles and cars to move between the ATM locations. Therefore, investigators analysed footage from nearby cameras to track their movements.
After bank staff alerted authorities, police registered a case and launched a search. Special teams began efforts to trace the culprits. Officials also examined forensic evidence collected from both ATM sites.