Belagavi: In a shocking incident straight out of a crime film, a three-member gang stole an entire ATM machine using a handcart in Belagavi’s Hosa Ontamuri village. The theft took place near NH-48, where the ATM kiosk is located along a poorly lit service road with minimal vehicle movement.
Police said the gang arrived around 3 AM, first blacking out the CCTV cameras with spray paint to prevent any alarm triggers. After disconnecting the power supply, they loaded the entire India1 ATM machine—containing a little over ₹1 lakh—onto a pushcart.
The gang then wheeled the ATM for nearly 200 metres, shifted it into another vehicle, and escaped.
CCTV Captures the Sequence
Though the thieves disabled the internal DVR, one external camera briefly recorded their movement as they dragged the machine out. Police are examining the footage.
How the Heist Was Executed
Locals showed how the gang used the isolated service road to their advantage.
- They brought a handcart.
- Painted the CCTV lens with black spray.
- Disconnected the power supply to silence alarms.
- Lifted the ATM onto the cart.
- Moved it to the main road and transferred it to a getaway vehicle.
Bank officials from India1 arrived at the spot and confirmed the theft.
Bank Official Speaks
A senior bank officer told reporters:
“We received photos early in the morning showing that the machine had been removed. The security system’s DVR was inside the ATM, which the thieves took. That limits our access to clear CCTV footage.”
He confirmed that ₹96,000 was loaded in the machine as per the last switch report.
Police Investigation Underway
Belagavi Rural Police have registered a case and launched a hunt for the gang. Investigators suspect the thieves are experienced ATM burglars familiar with alarm mechanisms and surveillance systems.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: Belagavi | ತಳ್ಳುಗಾಡಿ ತಂದು ಎಟಿಎಂ ಯಂತ್ರವನ್ನೇ ಹೊತ್ತೊಯ್ದ ದುಷ್ಕರ್ಮಿಗಳು; ಸಿಸಿಟಿವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೃಶ್ಯ ಸೆರೆ
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