Police suspect 'professionals' in ATM break-in

Police suspect that thieves who yesterday morning pried open an ATM machine of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Surat Thani's Tha Chana district and got away with Bt700,000 cash were professionals.

Following the robbery report at 7am, Tha Chana superintendant Pol Colonel Chinnawat Premsa-nga led a team to inspect the scene and found evidence that the bandits broke in via the bank's back door and cut the CCTV system and Internet connection, before breaking into the ATM to take out four cash boxes.

The investigation found that the bandits stole the Bt700,000 remaining in the machine. Police also found an employee uniform shirt and a pair of rubber gloves near the machine. At 10am, police retrieved the three cash boxes in a palm plantation and found footprints.

Chinnawat said the bandits appeared to be professionals with technical expertise and might not be locals.