Using a gas cutter, a gang of thieves broke open an ATM machine belonging to Axis Bank located in Sheetla Colony in old Gurugram in the wee hours of Sunday and made away with around Rs 69,000 in cash.

“The accused used a gas cutter for breaking the machine. A guard of the bank informed the bank officials about the incident,” a police official said.

Soon after receiving the information, a police teams reached the spot immediately and started investigations. A case was registered on the complaint of the bank management. According to the police, the machine contained around Rs 69,000. There was no security guard at night at the ATM and the guards close the booth’s shutter before opening them in the morning.

When Sobran Singh, a security guard posted at the booth, reported for duty on Sunday morning, he saw that both the shutter lock and the ATM machine were broken.

“The investigations are continuing with the help of technical experts. Help is also being sought from the technical team of the bank to view the CCTV footage. He told that soon the clue of the miscreants will be detected,” said Sub-Inspector Devi Charan the investigation officer.

It is learnt that the ATM caught fire when the accused were using the gas cutter to break the machine open. The culprits, however, doused the fire with water before decamping with the money.

During the investigation comes to fore the culprits were four-five in numbers. The miscreants first sprayed the CCTV camera to hide the identity as soon as the ATM entered.

The incident has once again brought the security of ATM machines under the scanner.

“A case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the unidentified miscreants at the Sector-5 police station. Further probe into the matter is under. The culprits will be arrested soon,” the investigation officer (IO) said.