After successfully blowing up an automated teller machine (ATM) in Membakut township early May this year, the same modus operandi believed by the same group of criminals struck again by blowing up two ATMs at CIMB Bank in Grand Plaza Putatan, Putatan early yesterday morning.

Unlike the previous incident where two men masked men were seen blowing up the ATM machine in Membakut, this time five masked men equipped with sharp objects managed to blow up two ATM machines before escaping with the money boxes.

Sabah Crime Investigation Department (CID) chief SAC Salehhudin Abd Rahman said an explosion was heard by police at the Putatan Police Station around 4.20am.

“The blast was heard coming from Grand Plaza Putatan and police immediately went to investigate. When police arrived at the scene, they found two ATM machines had been destroyed in the explosion. The incident also destroyed the bank’s glass window,” he said when met at the scene yesterday. Also present was Penampang police chief DSP Rosley Hobden.

Salehhudin said initial police investigation revealed that the suspects had initially threatened the bank security guard with a weapon forcing the latter to run to the upper floor of the building. The suspects then entered the bank and placed explosives on two ATM machines. Once the machines were destroyed, the suspects took out the money boxes and fled the scene in a white Perodua Myvi.

Salehhudin meanwhile said police are still investigating the amount stolen.

“We are still waiting for reports from the bank management,” he said. Salehhudin also said police did not rule out the possibility that the same group of robbers were involved in last month’s robbery at Membakut.

“We are not ruling out that this may be the same group involved in the similar incident in early May this year. At the moment, we are investigating this case from all angles and police have set up a special team to investigate the case,” he said, adding that police have also implemented Ops Tutup/roadblocks in all districts. Police are investigating the case under Section 6 of the Explosives Act 1957.

On May 11, three robbers blew up an ATM with a homemade bomb before escaping with about RM70,000 in Membakut township. CCTV footage from the bank showed two masked men entered the bank around 1.50am and pried opened the ATM machine before inserting the homemade bomb inside.

The suspects then lighted a fuse and blew up the door before removing the money box and escaped in a waiting sports utility vehicle (SUV). Police found the empty money box abandoned some 20 metres from the bank.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Borneo Post

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