Aug 19, 2011

Bandits Blast ATMs in Search of Cash

Thirty-eight of the machines blasted open since January 2011

SAO PAULO – Bandits with Explosives hit two ATMs in the metropolitan area yesterday according to authorities. The thefts continue a rash of ATM heists this year bringing the total to 38 since January.

A Banco Bradesco ATM blasted open at a gas station

ATM Blown Open (photo: r7.com)

According to police, early Thursday morning, a group of at least eight men used high explosives to blow up an ATM at a gas station in Jundiai, 65 km from Sao Paulo. The men fled in two cars and were not apprehended. An unknown amount of cash was stolen.

After the explosion, according to witnesses, cash was fluttering in the air all around the area. The men were seen on surveillance video grabbing at the twenty and fifty Real bills raining down from above in the smokey scene after the explosion.

Also in Sao Paulo and on Thursday, at about 2:20 AM, thieves blew up an ATM in the city of Hortolândia, about 111 km from Sao Paulo. This time the ATM was located in a parking lot kiosk at a supermarket located in the Sao Francisco neighborhood. It was the fourth ATM blown to pieces in Campinas this year. Firefighters who responded to the scene had to put out a fire which had spread from the explosion site to nearby buildings.

Police found burned cash at in the area and they don't think the thieves escaped with any usable money. Surveillance video shows some of the crew apparently injured in the explosion. An investigation is ongoing and it is not yet known if this is the same crew who blew up an ATM in Jundiai a few hours earlier.

These are the 37th and 38th ATM explosive heists this year in Sao Paulo.

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Brazilian online news source for this article: O Globo

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