Man donning joker mask tries to break open ATMs in Kanyakumari

KANYAKUMARI: A man wearing a joker mask made unsuccessful burglary attempts at two ATMs of a nationalised bank in the coastal areas of Kanyakumari district early on Thursday. Video footage of the theft attempt at the Indian Bank ATM attached to the bank’s Kurumpanai branch shortly after 1 am is being circulated in the social media.
The video shows a well-built young man wearing jeans, a black full sleeve t-shirt and gloves, covering his face and head with a joker mask, entering the ATM with an iron rod. He was seen trying to break open the ATM before he left the place in a few moments.
Karungal inspector D Rhenius Jesupatham said that the miscreant left the place immediately as the road was busy due to the movement of fishermen. “The incident went unnoticed and customers continued to withdraw money from the ATM till the alarm went off in the morning after a customer kicked the machine,” he said.
The bank manager rushed to the ATM and he realised that there was a theft attempt at the ATM and the machine opened when the customer kicked it. After going through CCTV footage the bank official lodged a police complaint. A case was registered under Sections 380 (theft), 457 (trespassing) and 511 (attempt to commit offence) of the IPC.
“The same man made an attempt at another ATM of the same bank at Muttom – about 15km from Kurumpanai. The accused used the same bike in both places. A separate case was registered there,” the inspector said.
Two held for bid to rob ATM
The Sulur police arrested two Bihar natives on Thursday for attempting to break open an ATM at Thennampalayam Pirivu, on the outskirts of Coimbatore.
Police identified them as M Bijendra, 19, of Garhi Balua and M Govinda, 24, of Betauna village in Purnia district. The duo had been working in a foundry unit and wanted to go back to their home town by train, but didn’t have enough money.