NATIONAL
Thieves grab RM160,000 from ATM while bank guard is in prayer
Terengganu police combing the site for clues after four masked men made off with RM160,000 by destroying an ATM. -BERNAMA Photo
While a bank's security guard was praying at a nearby surau, four men wrenched one of four automated teller machines (ATM) from its premises here and escaped with RM160,000 in Jerteh early today.
The break-in which occurred at 5.45am was over in less than five minutes.
Initial police investigations revealed the masked thieves had used a cable to tie one of the four ATMs before wrenching it from its booth at the bank, using a car.
They prised open the ATM outside the bank.
State CID chief ACP Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Hamzah said the bank's closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera recorded the theft.
"While the incident was taking place, the bank's security guard was praying at a surau outside the vicinity of the bank.
"The guard returned from prayer to find the bank's glass door shattered and a badly-damaged ATM outside the premises. He then called the bank authorities and the police," he said.
Wan Abdul Aziz said the police believed the theft was carried out by a group of criminals specialising in ATM break-ins.
He said this was the first case of an ATM break-in in Besut and a special unit had been set up by the Terengganu police to curb such crime.
He urged those with information on the incident to contact the Besut police headquarters at 09-6956222 or Jerteh police station at 09-6971222.
The break-in which occurred at 5.45am was over in less than five minutes.
Initial police investigations revealed the masked thieves had used a cable to tie one of the four ATMs before wrenching it from its booth at the bank, using a car.
They prised open the ATM outside the bank.
State CID chief ACP Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Hamzah said the bank's closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera recorded the theft.
"While the incident was taking place, the bank's security guard was praying at a surau outside the vicinity of the bank.
"The guard returned from prayer to find the bank's glass door shattered and a badly-damaged ATM outside the premises. He then called the bank authorities and the police," he said.
Wan Abdul Aziz said the police believed the theft was carried out by a group of criminals specialising in ATM break-ins.
He said this was the first case of an ATM break-in in Besut and a special unit had been set up by the Terengganu police to curb such crime.
He urged those with information on the incident to contact the Besut police headquarters at 09-6956222 or Jerteh police station at 09-6971222.