Bhubaneswar, May 7: In a fresh incident of ATM theft, unidentified criminals broke into a State Bank of India (SBI) automated teller machine in Mayurbhanj district late Wednesday night and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The incident occurred in the Khunta area near Bangala Square under Udala subdivision. According to preliminary reports, the miscreants executed the theft in a planned manner to avoid detection.

Investigators said the accused first sprayed paint on the CCTV cameras installed at the ATM kiosk to disable surveillance. Footage recovered from the system reportedly showed the suspects covering the cameras before entering the premises. The criminals also allegedly tampered with the alarm and siren system to prevent nearby residents or police from being alerted during the break-in.

After forcing open the ATM kiosk, the robbers escaped with cash stored inside the machine. The exact amount stolen is yet to be ascertained by bank officials.

On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and initiated an investigation. A forensic team has also been deployed to examine evidence collected from the scene.

Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from nearby establishments and roads to trace the movement of the accused. A manhunt has been launched to identify and apprehend those involved in the crime.

The incident has once again raised concerns over ATM security and increasing cases of organised theft targeting banking infrastructure in the region.

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