On Monday, an SBI ATM in Sola area was targeted. Robbers entered the ATM and tried to cut the machine using a wielding machine but were unsuccessful in their attempt. In addition, the recent theft cases of four cheques from the drop box of Saraswati Bank at an ATM in Vastrapur area and three cheques from drop boxes of Axis Bank and IDBI Bank ATMs have raised concerns about lax security measures at the ATMs.
The rising cases of thefts and frauds at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Sector I has forced Ajay Tomar, Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) of the sector to issue letters to all police stations asking them to collect information regarding security arrangements at the ATMs. Tomar has asked all police stations to collect details of security guards manning the ATMs and CCTV cameras installed inside it. Seventeen police stations fall under Sector I, the major ones being Satellite, Vastrapur, Sola, Navrangpura, Vejalpur and Ellisbridge.
Police sources say the four cheques stolen from the Saraswati Bank were forged by thieves and submitted back under different names.
A complaint of the Saraswati Bank ATM theft and fraud case was registered at the Vastrapur police station. In addition, an application of theft cases in the Axis Bank and IDBI Bank was also lodged at the Vastrapur police station. Last week, a SBI ATM in Vastrapur area was targeted in which robbers fled with over Rs7 lakh cash. Tomar has asked all banks with ATMs and no security personnel to employ guards instantly in view of the rising cases of ATM theft and fraud.
