Telangana Heist: Masked Gang Steals ₹30 Lakh from ATM in 4-Minute Operation

Rangareddy: A daring heist took place in Telangana's Rangareddy district on Sunday, as four masked men looted ₹30 lakh from a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM in the Maheshwaram area. The entire robbery, which lasted just four minutes, was caught on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media.

The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. on Sunday when the thieves, equipped with gas cutters and iron rods, targeted the SBI ATM. According to the police, one of the burglars was seen getting out of a car and entering the ATM kiosk. To prevent being identified by the surveillance cameras, he sprayed a substance on the CCTV camera at the gate. Despite this, the ATM's internal CCTV system managed to capture the entire heist.

In a meticulous operation, the gang members disabled the emergency alarm system by cutting the wires. They then used the gas cutter to break open the ATM machine and loot approximately ₹29.69 lakh. Before fleeing the scene, the thieves rolled down the shutter of the ATM kiosk to avoid detection.

Authorities were quick to launch a manhunt after the robbery was reported. The police are analyzing the CCTV footage from the ATM and surrounding areas to track the burglars' car. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Raju, "There were five people involved in the robbery – one in the car, one waiting outside, and three inside. They came prepared with gas cutters and iron rods to break into the ATM machine."

Police investigations have led them to suspect that the same gang may be responsible for similar ATM thefts in other cities, including Bengaluru and Hosur in Tamil Nadu. Investigators also revealed that the gang had previously attempted another robbery at an ATM in Mylardevpally but was thwarted when one of the thieves suffered an electric shock while cutting the wires.

The police are working with multiple teams to track down the suspects and have speculated that the thieves may be from Haryana. Authorities have assured the public that they are committed to bringing the culprits to justice and are closely monitoring the situation.

The heist, which took place with remarkable speed and precision, has left the local community in shock and has raised concerns over ATM security in the region.