PATNA: Criminals have stolen more than Rs 1 crore from at least 10 automated teller machine (ATM) kiosks in Patna district alone since February this year.In the month of February, Rs 7.15 lakh was looted from an ATM kiosk of Axis Bank near SDPO's office at Phulwarisharif.Criminals had also targeted ATMs of HDFC Bank at Anisabad and Indicash at Shivpuri, both under Gardanibagh police station area, but failed to steal cash.On July 24, at least Rs 4 lakh was stolen from an Axis Bank ATM kiosk at Beur. On July 28, Rs 17.68 lakh was stolen from an SBI ATM at Masaurhi Chowk. Criminals had uprooted the ATM and fled with it in a pickup van.More than Rs 12 lakh was stolen from another ATM kiosk under NTPC police station area in Patna district in the month of July. Criminals had also unsuccessfully targeted an SBI ATM at Raghopur in Bihta.In August, more than Rs 16 lakh was stolen from SBI ATMs at Agamkuan and Patrakar Nagar in the city.While a sum of Rs 34.33 lakh was stolen from the ATM of Union Bank of India at Beur Mor, another Rs 7.64 lakh was thieved from an ATM of Canara Bank at Saguna Mor in the wee hours of November 15.The criminals also tried to cut open an ATM of Indian Overseas Bank on Gola Road, but did not succeed.According to a bank official, guards are deployed at ATM kiosks after security audit of the area concerned. "A major reason behind not deploying guard is cost-cutting by banks," he said, adding the cost of one ATM is around Rs 3.5 lakh. "Banks minimise their losses by claiming insurance. The ATM as well as the cash kept in it are insured properties of banks," the banker said.

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