ATM stolen in Moradabad’s Civil Lines area, probe begins

Unidentified criminals uprooted and stole a Punjab National Bank (PNB) ATM from Moradabad’s Civil Lines area.

The theft took place near the Loco Set bridge, just ahead of Fawwara Chowk, a location known to be one of the busiest stretches in the city, police said on Wednesday.

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Panic spread among local residents early in the morning on Wednesday when they discovered that the ATM was missing. They immediately informed the police, prompting swift action from the department. Senior police officials, including SP City Kumar Ranvijay Singh, Civil Lines CO Kuldeep Gupta, and Station House Officer Manish Saxena, rushed to the spot with a heavy police force.

Upon inspection, officials confirmed that the miscreants had uprooted the ATM and fled with it in a vehicle sometime late Tuesday night.

According to preliminary information, the ATM contained cash worth several lakhs.

The incident has raised serious questions about security arrangements in the area.

SP City Kumar Ranvijay Singh said that multiple police teams have been deployed and efforts are underway to trace the culprits. He assured that the accused would be arrested soon.

A local resident who visited the ATM to withdraw money said he was shocked to find the machine missing. “Initially, I thought the ATM might have been removed for servicing due to some technical issue. But later I learnt it had been stolen. It’s surprising how an ATM can be taken away from such a busy road,” he said.

Police have collected crucial evidence from the crime scene and have started a thorough investigation. Authorities say more details are expected as the probe progresses.