An unidentified group of thieves allegedly targeted a State Bank of India ATM located at Telangana Chowrastha in Mahabubnagar town during the early hours of Tuesday. According to reports, the accused completely damaged the ATM machine and fled with the cash box. Before carrying out the theft, the offenders reportedly destroyed CCTV cameras and other equipment inside the ATM centre to avoid identification. The exact amount of cash stolen is yet to be confirmed by bank officials.

Local residents noticed the damaged ATM in the morning and immediately alerted the police and bank authorities. Soon after, police teams and forensic experts reached the spot to collect fingerprints and other evidence from the ATM centre. Officials said the fingerprints gathered from the scene would be compared with records linked to suspects involved in previous ATM theft cases.

Police have launched a detailed investigation into the incident and are also examining CCTV footage from nearby areas to trace the accused. The incident has once again raised concerns over ATM security in Telangana, especially at centres operating without proper night-time security arrangements.