Thieves panic, escape as ATM alarm goes off

CHENNAI: Thieves trying to break open an ATM kiosk on Cemetry Road in Washermenpet on Wednesday night fled after triggering the facility's burglar alarm. But the gang made away with six inverter batteries from the kiosk.

The unmanned ATM centre had CCTV cameras installed and footage was live streamed and monitored from Mumbai.

"After entering the kiosk, the gang first noticed the inverter batteries near the ATM and took them," a police officer said. "The thieves then tried to break open the machine to get their hands on the money. But they seem to have accidentally set off burglar alarm. They fled in panic."

Officials monitoring the ATM from Mumbai alerted the city police control room, saying at least three men were trying to break open the ATM.

The Washermenpet police are checking surveillance footage for leads.