Intruders walk away with Rs 13 L from ATM kiosk at Padappai

CHENNAI: Unidentified intruders looted Rs 13 lakh from the ATM kiosk of the South Indian Bank in Padappai Bazaar, possibly using a code or a key, on Wednesday.

The ATM kiosk is situated on the same premises as the South Indian Bank branch on the Padappai Main Road. According to the police, the staff had filled the machine with cash to the tune of Rs 23.3 lakh last Saturday. The money would usually last for about four to five days.

This time, however, the cash ran out in just two days and the customers began complaining that there was no money in the ATM.

Following this, officials from the bank checked the ATM and found that there was no money inside. Growing suspicious over this, they checked the footage from the CCTV camera installed inside the kiosk. In the footage, they saw a group of four men visiting the kiosk for two days in a car, with no registration number plate.

Police said the gang could have used the code or key to open the machine and took away Rs 8,17,200 on the first day and Rs 4,86,000 on the second day.

After seeing the footage, the manager of the bank branch filed a complaint with the police and the Maraimalai Nagar police, and a team from there visited the spot and held inquiries.

The police suspect the possible involvement of bank staff in the theft, as the ATM was opened without damaging the machine. The police have registered a case and formed special teams to identify the burglars. Further investigation is on.

Police said the gang may have used the code or key to open the ATM to steal more than Rs 9 lakh on two days