Bank Danamon's ATM stolen

JAKARTA (JP): Police are still looking for at least three people for stealing an automatic teller machine operated by Bank Danamon on Jl. Iskandar Muda, in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta.

Kebayoran Lama Police Detective Chief Sec. Lt. M. Hanafie said yesterday that the bank's security guard, Sanusi, found the machine missing at about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

"Police believe the thieves stole the machine between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m when there was a change of security guards," he said.

It was believed the thieves used an ATM card to open the booth since there was no sign of damage to the facility, he said.

It was also believed the thieves used a small forklift or pickup truck to pull out the one-ton machine, which contained millions of rupiah, and to transport it, he said.

Before starting their operation, the thieves cut a security cable which connected the machine to the bank headquarters on Jl. Sudirman, he said.

A public relations officer, Rini, at the bank headquarters confirmed that the machine in Kebayoran Lama was stolen, but refused to give details.

Hanafie said the culprits were probably familiar with the bank and its security.

Sanusi told police that the bank, which is near Kebayoran Lama market, was usually guarded well, but not last Sunday.

This was the third ATM machine theft reported to police over the last five months, Hanafie said.

On March 30, another ATM owned by Bank International Indonesia was stolen at a supermarket in Depok.

The machine, which contained at least Rp 150 million (US$61,224), was found empty in the Sunter River in Bekasi later that evening.

Thieves also stole a Bank Lippo ATM in Kebayoran Lama on April 27.

All thefts occurred on a Sunday when situations were safe for the thieves to operate. All culprits are still at large. (jun)