ATM robbery bids foiled in Koppal, Hosapete after fire, alarm alert

Koppal / Hosapete: Two ATM robbery attempts at SBI centres — in Koppal and Hosapete — were foiled Tuesday night, with a fire disrupting one bid and a security siren alerting police in the other, police said.In Koppal, burglars targeted an SBI ATM opposite a private hospital in BT Patil Nagar. They sprayed black paint on CCTV cameras and attempted to cut open the machine using gas‑welding equipment to steal cash.A fire broke out during the operation, forcing the miscreants to abandon the attempt and flee. Fire and emergency services personnel reached the spot and extinguished the blaze, preventing further damage.Officials from Koppal Town police station visited the scene, registered a complaint and launched an investigation based on CCTV footage and other evidence.In a similar incident, an attempted ATM robbery at an SBI centre near Kanakadasa Circle in Hosapete, Vijayanagara district, was thwarted by the security alarm system and a prompt police response.Police said four masked men entered the ATM kiosk around midnight, sprayed paint on CCTV cameras to conceal their identities, and tried to break open the machine.As they tampered with the ATM, the security system triggered a loud siren, automatically alerting the Vijayanagara district police control room. Patrol personnel were informed immediately, but the suspects fled after being startled by the alarm before police arrived.Police inspected the spot and registered a case at Hosapete Town police station.Photos: 10-ATM Robbery-1 & 2EOM/10/06/26/Chamaraj