Overview
- Police say at least three suspects used a pickup, entered the ATM booth, tied a rope to the machine and pulled it out around 2:04 a.m., after which the ATM was driven away and later found burnt in fields near Akuledu.
- Authorities recovered parts of the stolen equipment on the outskirts of Akuledu within hours and have begun technical and forensic checks of the scene and devices.
- Officials reported that about ₹15–18 lakh was taken from the machine, with exact figures still being reconciled as police examine the cash chest and records.
- Superintendent P. Jagadeesh has formed special teams to analyse CCTV footage, deploy dog squads and alert toll plazas and check posts as investigators probe whether the gang used commercial vehicles to move the machine across districts.
- The theft follows a similar recent attack in Dharmavaram and highlights that many SBI ATMs in the district operate without night guards, a security gap that could prompt banks and local authorities to review night surveillance and staffing.