Burglars Cut Open ICICI Bank ATM in Pudupedu, Steal ₹10 Lakh

Unidentified burglars cut open an ICICI Bank ATM using a welding machine and made away with ₹10 lakh at Pudupedu near Somangalam in the early hours of Tuesday.

The ATM kiosk, located along the Sriperumbudur-Kundrathur Road, had no security guard on duty at the time of the incident. According to police, the gang entered the kiosk around 2.45am and sprayed a chemical substance onto the CCTV camera lens to conceal their identities. They also managed to disable the alarm system.

The suspects used a welding machine to cut open the specific section of the ATM containing the cash cassette. After extracting ₹10 lakh in cash, the perpetrators fled the scene in a vehicle.

Despite the gang's precautions, the tampering triggered an automated alert at the bank’s central control room in Mumbai. The control room quickly notified the Tamil Nadu police about an ongoing burglary attempt at an ATM near Somangalam in Kancheepuram district.

However, night patrol personnel were unable to reach the kiosk immediately because they did not receive the precise location of the machine. Officers had to inspect several ATMs across the area before locating the vandalised kiosk at Pudupedu.

Police suspect the burglary was carried out by a professional gang, citing the deliberate measures taken to bypass security systems and break open the machine. Further investigation is underway.