Dec 4, 2011

Stores Destroyed in ATM Blast

Brazil News

| BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – Bandits blasted open an ATM early Saturday morning in the town of Conselheiro Lafaiete, destroying the machine but getting no cash. One shop next door was completely destroyed and others in the shopping mall where the machine was located were badly damaged, according to G1 Minas Gerais.

Image of store  destroyed by ATM robbers using dynamite in Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil 04 December 2011

Store destroyed by dynamite (photo: G1 Minas Gerais)

Military Police (PM) in the town, about 104 km (65 miles) from the capital, said the attempted robbery took place at about 4:30 am this morning. They also said that the force of the explosion damaged 11 stores, blowing out windows and doors and collapsing plaster ceilings.

The PM doesn't know how many people were involved as no witnesses have come forward and police have been unable to access any surveillance video. Police were sure, however, that the robbers did not get any money.

ATM Blasted Open (Video G1 PA)

The company that owns the ATM reported that the front of the equipment was completely destroyed and that the explosion must have been done with dynamite, but only investigators will be able to say for sure what type of explosive was used in the attack.

Also according to the PM, patrols were made in the area after the explosion but no suspects were located. Police said that there were no pictures of from the internal circuit of the machine to be analyzed. Nobody was injured in the explosion.

Explosives are a common method of bank robbery in Brazil. Several hundred ATMs in the state of Sao Paulo have been blasted open this year.

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Brazilian online news source for this article: G1 Minas Gerais

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