Bengaluru: A 36-year-old man was arrested within 24 hours for allegedly attempting to steal cash from two ATM kiosks in central Bengaluru to clear his mounting debts. The accused has been identified as Hasan Abdul Sab, a resident of VV Giri Colony in Seshadripuram and a native of Dharwad.

Police said Sab allegedly targeted a Canara Bank ATM in Seshadripuram and an HDFC Bank ATM in Cubbonpet in the early hours of Monday.

Attempts at two locations

According to investigators, the accused first attempted to break open the ATM machine at Seshadripuram. He then allegedly moved to another kiosk in Cubbonpet in a similar bid to access cash stored inside the machine.

Initially, police suspected that two individuals might have been involved, as the attempts occurred at different locations within a short span of time. However, after examining CCTV footage from both kiosks, officers noticed striking similarities in the suspect’s appearance, clothing and mannerisms.

“The footage clearly indicated that the same person was involved in both attempts. His body language and the way he handled the tools were identical,” a senior officer said.

Special teams formed

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Hakay Akshay Machhindra formed five special teams on Monday to trace the suspect. The teams scanned CCTV footage from surrounding areas, tracked possible escape routes and gathered local intelligence.

Within 24 hours of the attempted thefts being reported, Sab was tracked down and arrested. Police said his swift arrest was made possible due to coordinated efforts and technical analysis of surveillance footage.

He has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to attempted theft and damage to property.

Motive linked to debt

During preliminary interrogation, Sab reportedly confessed that he was under severe financial stress and had accumulated significant debts. In a desperate attempt to clear his liabilities, he decided to target ATM kiosks, believing they would contain substantial cash.

Police said he carried tools to break open the cassette and cash dispenser units inside the machines. However, his plan did not succeed.

“In one of the ATM kiosks, the security alarm was triggered when he tried to tamper with the machine. The siren forced him to flee the spot without stealing any money,” a senior officer said.

No cash was stolen in either of the attempts, though minor damage to the machines was reported.

Investigation continues

Police are now investigating Sab’s background, including whether he has any prior criminal record and if he acted alone or had associates. Officers are also examining whether he was involved in similar offences elsewhere in the city or in other districts.

Authorities have reiterated the importance of robust security systems in ATM kiosks, including functional alarms and CCTV cameras, which played a crucial role in preventing the theft and aiding in the suspect’s quick arrest.

Sab has been produced before the jurisdictional magistrate and remanded as per court orders. Further investigation is under way.