A seven-member gang uprooted an ATM from a kiosk in Deoghar early Tuesday, dragged it nearly 500 metres and escaped with the machine containing Rs 4.82 lakh, police said. The theft took place around 3.30 am near Seva Dham in the Nandan Pahar locality under Deoghar town police station limits.
According to the initial police investigation, the gang broke open the kiosk shutter and used a gas cutter to detach the ATM. The machine was then tied to a car with a heavy rope or strap. One person remained behind the wheel while the others worked on removing the ATM, police said.
CCTV footage reportedly shows the car being parked in front of the kiosk before it was reversed towards the machine. The vehicle was then used to wrench the ATM out of its housing. The men had covered their faces with towels and continued operating even as vehicles passed along the road, according to the footage examined by investigators.
After dragging the machine to a secluded stretch, the gang loaded it into the car and fled. The theft came to light after the ATM control office of the public sector bank in Patna alerted local police. A police control room team reached the location and examined the damaged kiosk and the surrounding area.
Deoghar Superintendent of Police Praveen Pushkar and other senior officers visited the scene after the incident. Police alerted stations in neighbouring areas and began examining CCTV footage to identify the suspects, trace the vehicle and recover the ATM.
Pushkar said the gang appeared to be from outside Deoghar district but may have received local support. Investigators suspect the accused used rural roads before moving towards Katoriya near the Jharkhand-Bihar border. The possible escape route is now under scrutiny as police coordinate with neighbouring stations.
Police are also investigating whether the kiosk had been surveyed before the theft. The use of a gas cutter, a vehicle and a coordinated team has led investigators to examine how the gang selected the location and carried out the operation without being intercepted during the initial removal of the machine.
The ATM guard had reportedly remained on duty until 10 pm on Monday and closed the shutter before leaving. He returned on Tuesday morning after being informed about the theft. The damaged kiosk and the missing machine remain key parts of the evidence being examined by investigators.
The next steps in the investigation are the analysis of CCTV footage, identification of the vehicle and suspects, and efforts to recover the ATM and the cash inside it, police said.
