Chennai: Irked robbers set fire to bank files

Chennai: Unidentified men broke into the Avvai Shanmugam Salai branch of Punjab National Bank on Friday night.

Though they could not reach the cash chest containing Rs19 lakh, intruders set a fire some files found in the bank. The robbery attempt came to light after residents alerted the police about smoke coming out of the bank at around 1.30 am.

 “On Friday night, around 1.30 am, neighbours of the bank in Gopalapuram saw some smoke coming out of the ground floor of the bank premises of the building and alerted the police who rushed to the spot. The police team that reached the spot found the locks of the bank broken open and a minor fire inside the bank. Immediately, the fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire. The bank manager was also alerted. Bank officials reached the spot and found that the Rs 19 lakh in cash in the locker was not touched by robbers”, said a police officer.

Police said unidentified men had entered the bank through the main door after breaking the locked chain. “The miscreants must have found it difficult to break the safety locker, and angered by it, they must have set the papers on fire and escaped the scene,” said a police officer.

Forensic experts visited the bank and lifted some fingerprints.

The bank did not deploy any security guard at the branch, but had CCTV cameras installed inside. “We are browsing through the footage to see if we can get any clue,” the police said.