Another ATM stolen in G’gram

In yet another incident of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) being stolen, an ICICI bank ATM was stolen from Islampur village in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. With this incident,  case of cash dispensing machines theft have risen to 14 in Gurugram since last December.

The sudden increase in the number of ATMs being stolen, has rattled the city as well as the police. It may be noted that in a meeting held last month, Commissioner of Gurugram Police (CP) Sandeep Khirwar had said that Station House Officers (SHOs) will be held accountable in the event of ATMs being stolen from their respective areas.

The Police Commissioner had also directed SHOs to increase night patrolling to secure ATMs installed in their respective areas. Despite these instructions, Gurugram Police have failed to stop the theft of ATMs.

“These ATM theft incidents are serious and we have issued clear and strict instructions to the concerned SHOs to focus on solving these cases and also preventing cases of ATMs being stolen from their areas. A dedicated crime team is now investigating these cases. They are also focusing on gangs suspicious of involvement in these incidents,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sumit Kuhar said.

Sources in the city police said as per the law the police cannot take legal actions against the bank who have failed to deploy guards for machine safety. The department is now planning to urge the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gurugram to direct bank officials to follow safety guidelines to avoid such incidents and if they failed to follow these guidelines then action could be initiated against them.

“Another reason behind the crime is lack of manpower. The city police have around 3,074 staff. In which around 1,281 police personnel are deployed in all three zones police stations, including two traffic police stations and 11 police posts,” a senior police official, said.

Recently the police chief had ordered a departmental inquiry against the Badshahpur SHO after a private bank’s ATM in Begumpura Khatola village was robbed twice in a span of 10 days.  In such cases, the robbers had managed to steal Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9 lakh on an average from each machine.