SBI ATM Robbery Attempt Thwarted by Alarm System in Ludhiana
In a dramatic incident in Ludhiana, an unidentified individual attempted to rob a State Bank of India ATM kiosk located on Barewal Road, only to be forced to flee when the machine's built-in siren system activated. The failed robbery attempt has prompted police to register a formal case under the newly implemented Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Details of the Failed Robbery Attempt
The incident occurred during the early morning hours between 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM. The perpetrator managed to break open the shutter of the ATM kiosk and entered the cabin with apparent intent to steal cash. However, the robbery attempt was abruptly halted when the accused used a gas cutter on the ATM machine, triggering the integrated alarm system.
The loud siren forced the would-be robber to abandon the attempt and flee the scene without managing to steal any cash from the machine. The damaged shutter was discovered by local residents in the morning, who then alerted bank authorities about the suspicious activity.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
Following the discovery, Sanjeev Kumar Verma, deputy manager at SBI's Treasury Branch in Ghumar Mandi and a resident of Bajrang Vihar on Noorwala Road, lodged a formal complaint with the Sarabha Nagar police station. Based on his complaint, police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified accused persons.
The case has been filed under multiple sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:
- Section 331(4) for lurking house trespass
- Section 305 for theft
- Section 62 for attempt to commit an offence
According to Verma's statement, he received information about the incident from chief manager Ashwani Mahajan, who informed him that the SBI ATM kiosk situated in Ashapuri on Barewal Road, adjacent to a furniture store, had been targeted by criminals.
Security Systems Prove Effective
ASI Rajinder Kumar, the investigating officer from Sarabha Nagar police station, emphasized the crucial role played by the ATM's security features in preventing the robbery. "The siren system installed in the ATM proved to be the decisive factor in foiling this robbery attempt," Kumar stated.
He explained that the alarm automatically activated when the accused attempted to break open the ATM using a gas cutter. All State Bank of India ATMs are equipped with this inbuilt siren system as part of their security infrastructure, which successfully deterred the criminal in this instance.
Police have now requested the bank to provide CCTV footage from the ATM kiosk to help identify the suspect. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to track down the individual responsible for the attempted robbery.
Similar Incident in Recent Weeks
This failed robbery attempt comes just weeks after a successful ATM heist in the same region. On March 7, a criminal gang managed to rob an ICICI Bank ATM located near Jalandhar Bypass by breaking it open with a gas cutter.
In that incident, the perpetrators escaped with cash trays containing approximately 6 to 7 lakh rupees. The Salem Tabri police registered a case regarding that robbery, but the suspects have not yet been apprehended, highlighting the ongoing challenge of ATM security in the region.
The contrasting outcomes of these two incidents—one successful and one foiled—underscore the importance of effective security systems in protecting banking infrastructure from criminal elements.
