Residents of a quiet village in Jhajjar were left in shock this morning after discovering their local ATM kiosk completely empty. In a scene resembling a movie heist, criminals managed to physically remove the heavy machine and escape with a significant amount of cash.
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The Modus Operandi: The thieves struck between 2:00 AM and 3:30 AM. They first spray-painted the lenses of the CCTV cameras inside and outside the booth. Using a gas cutter, they detached the machine from its floor mounts. A heavy chain was then tied around the ATM and attached to a pickup truck parked outside, which was used to yank the machine onto the vehicle’s bed.
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The Loot: Bank officials confirmed that the ATM had been replenished recently. “The total cash inside at the time of the theft was approximately ₹8.15 lakh,” a bank representative stated.
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Security Lapse: The kiosk was reportedly unmanned at the time of the incident. While most ATMs are equipped with vibration sensors that trigger a central alarm at the bank’s headquarters, it appears the thieves may have used a “jammer” or were skilled enough to disable the communication line before the theft.
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Police Action: * Forensics: Fingerprint experts and a dog squad visited the site this morning.
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The Lead: Police have found tire marks of a heavy vehicle leading toward the Rohtak-Jhajjar highway.
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Investigation: The Jhajjar SP has formed three special CIA (Crime Investigation Agency) teams to track the gang, which is suspected to be a professional group operating across the Haryana-Rajasthan border.
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Pattern of Crime: This is the second such incident in the district in the last three months where an entire machine was taken instead of breaking it open on-site, suggesting the gang prefers to dismantle the machine at a secluded hideout.
Public Warning: Police have urged banks to ensure that all rural ATMs are equipped with GPS tracking devices and that security guards are stationed 24/7. Villagers have been requested to report any suspicious pickup trucks seen roaming late at night in residential or commercial pockets.
