Burglars use pickup truck to rip out ATM cash dispenser with Rs 7 lakh cash in daring Pune district heist

“A joint investigation has been launched by teams from Yavat police station and the Local Crime Branch of Pune Rural police. We are working on some leads and are also checking criminals with similar records,” Deshmukh added.

Multiple burglaries targeting ATM kiosks have been reported in the past in Pune, Pune Rural and Pimpri Chinchwad jurisdictions. These gangs have used various modus operandi, including using gas cutters to breach the cash dispenser, improvised explosive devices to break open the machines, and even vehicles and earth movers to dislodge the cash dispensers. All three police jurisdictions have made multiple arrests in such cases, including those from notorious gangs.

The series of recent burglaries at ATMs, especially those located in the industrial areas in and around Pune, has revealed a pattern. Most of these heists have taken place in deserted areas during the night. Despite very clear guidelines from the RBI and repeated communication from the police, banks and non-banking entities that manage the ATM kiosks have failed to put in place adequate security cover, officials have observed.