An attempt to loot the SBI ATM here failed on Tuesday night. This is the third such attempt, believed to be by the same gang as the modus operandi suggests. The ATM was totally gutted during the loot attempt. on Tuesday night an attempt was made to loot the SBI ATM near Adarsh Palli, at Jagda.
However, the looters escaped when the ATM caught fire from the gas cylinder, which was being used by the gang. The looters had left behind two gas cylinders, one commercial and one domestic, the gas cutter, other breaking equipment and the auto in which they had come to commit the crime. Earlier, on 20 January similar attempts were made at two other ATMs.
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The first attempt was made at Canara Bank ATM at Civil Township, under Raghunathpalli PS. The looters failed in their attempt and fled from the scene. In the second incident they tried to break open the SBI ATM at Dumerta, under Bondamunda PS. Here they were using the gas cutter, but due to alert locals they failed and fled from the scene.
On Tuesday night’s tried to cut open the ATM machine however, they failed as the front plastic cover caught fire and they could not put it off. And soon the fire spread and the whole booth was in fire. A fire alarm immediately went to the Jhirpani PS and to the bank. The bank staff immediately informed this to the police.
Soon police arrived at the spot to find the whole booth was in fire. Police found the gas cutter, the gas cylinders and the auto, OD 14 A 4809, in front of the ATM. The auto has been traced to belonging to one Ranjit Singh of Bisra. When asked Rourkela SP Uma Shankar Das said, “We are investigating into the whole incident as this is third in row within four days.”
The SP also agreed the modus operandi in all the cases was same so he believed that it was the handiwork of the same gang. However, he declined to give further details as this might hamper the investigation.