Penampang: Thieves blasted bank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for the second time in two months when they made off with cash from the Putatan CIMB Bank outlet at 4.20am, Friday.The exact amount of cash taken had yet to be ascertained but losses have been estimated at around RM250,000. It was learnt that there was an attempt to pry open one of the ATM machines at the same bank last month.
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In the previous attempt at the Bank Simpanan Nasional branch in Membakut on May 11, no known CCTV images were recorded and it was not known if that was also the case in the latest incident. Many banks have stopped the practice of hiring security guards.State Criminal Investigation Department Chief Datuk Salehhudin Abd Rahman said a special taskforce has been set up.
"We are investigating the case from every angle," he said. He said a loud explosion prompted police from a nearby police beat to rush to the scene and initial investigations showed that the incident involved five people who wore masks and were armed with knives.
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The suspects used the knives to intimidate the lone security guard who was outside the premises when the incident took place. A resident known only as Jane, who lives some 100 metres away, heard an explosion at about 4.31am.
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"I thought I was dreaming or it was just teenagers playing with firecrackers and went back to sleep," she said.She only realised what happened when she heard her friends talking about the incident at about 9am. Police did not exclude the possibility of the same person responsible for the earlier attempt or those involved in Membakut incident being behind the latest case.
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Suspects made off with RM70,000 by using a homemade explosive to blow up a Bank Simpanan Nasional outlet located near the main road in Membakut Jaya, Membakut on May 11. The incident took place at about 1.55am with more than two people suspected to be involved.
