Robbers steal a Lippo ATM

DENPASAR, Bali: A group of thieves made away with a Bank Lippo Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) containing Rp 85.5 million in cash on the northern outskirts of Denpasar in the early hours of Saturday.

A senior Lippo officer said the financial loss was much higher as the cost of the machine itself was hundreds of millions of rupiah.

The robbers reportedly smashed the floor the ATM was attached to before taking the money machine away.

No security guards were present at the bank's office during the robbery.

A guard at a nearby office said he saw an Isuzu Panther van park in front of the bank at about 4:30 a.m. before leaving about 45 minutes later.

Police have linked the robbery to a number of recent burglaries on the island of Bali. Robbers got away with a safety box containing Rp 4.6 million and about US$20,000 in cash belonging to PT Sanuka Wisata on March 26, days after another ATM was stolen. (zen/edt)