Police have registered a case after a group of armed men used a stolen ambulance to target an automated teller machine in what investigators are calling one of the more audacious ATM robbery attempts this year. The incident occurred during broad daylight when the gang, estimated at four to six members, allegedly forced their way into the premises housing the ATM, broke open the machine, and loaded it into the back of the hijacked ambulance.
The stolen vehicle, which had been reported missing from a nearby residential area the previous evening, was spotted by witnesses near the crime scene. Sources indicate the ATM was located in a commercial complex that had recently been upgraded with a newer generation machine containing significant cash reserves. The exact location has not been disclosed publicly pending further investigation, but local media reports suggest the incident took place in a suburban business district.
According to police statements, the gang managed to remove the ATM unit and speed away in the ambulance before security personnel and nearby shoppers could intervene. Several bystanders recorded the incident on their mobile phones, and the footage is now being analyzed by investigating officers. The cash recovered inside the machine is estimated at around Rs 12 lakh, though authorities have not confirmed whether all the money was successfully taken or if any remained behind.
Investigating officers have traced several leads related to the stolen ambulance and are examining toll plaza records, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness accounts to track the suspects' movements. A reward has been announced for information leading to the arrest of those involved. ATM robbery syndicates operating across multiple states have been linked to similar modus operandi in recent months, prompting heightened scrutiny of banking security protocols.
