BANGALORE: The attempt to burgle the Central Bank of India's J.C. Nagar branch in the heart of Bangalore on Sunday night has showed how the lax security at banks in the city has made them the soft targets for burglars.

In the last three years more than 20 attempts have been made to burgle banks in different parts of the city.

Except in one incident, the thieves had entered the banks by cutting open the window/ventilator grills and none of these banks had a watchman.

In most of the cases, the intruders had run away as the alarm went off when they tried to reach the strong rooms.

While nothing was stolen from the banks in most cases, thieves made away with electronic gadgets worth Rs. 3.10 lakh from State Bank of Hyderabad's branch in 3rd Block, Rajajinagar, on April 12, 2003.

Hard disc damaged

In another case, burglars smashed a computer at State Bank of Mysore's Sampangiramnagar branch, off Pallavi cinema, on September 5, 2003 and damaged the hard disc.

Documents were thrown wildly at some banks.

The highest number of attempts to burgle banks was reported in 2004.

Thieves broke into Canara Bank's Subramanyanagar branch on February 8, 2004, and struck again at the bank's Rajajinagar branch eight days later, on February 16.

Such attempts were also made at Andhra Bank's HSR Layout branch, the branches of Corporation Bank and Bank of Maharashtra in J.P. Nagar and Bharath Cooperative Bank's branch in Kengeri in 2004.

Thieves had entered Union Bank of India's Commercial Street branch, which is a stone's throw away from the Commercial Street police station, on October 9, 2003 by removing an exhaust fan.

An attempt was made to burgle Vijaya Bank's Peenya branch on the busy National Highway 4 on January 7, 2005.

No night watchmen

The police say that many banks in the city do not have night watchmen and the burglars are striking mainly at such institutions.

The bank officials have to ensure adequate security to their premises, they say.

Referring to a daylight robbery at Allahabad Bank's BTM Layout branch on November 20, 2003, a senior police official says the crime could have been prevented if the bank had an armed security guard. Two men had made away with Rs. 5,000 after threatening the bank staff.

The safety of banks in Bangalore Rural district is also at risk as most of the banks there do not have security.

Patrolling

Police patrolling during the night is also not intense in the rural areas.

For instance, on December 17, 2004, thieves broke open the poor quality wooden doors of Kalapatharu Grameena Bank's Mugabalu branch in Hoskote taluk and made away with gold ornaments worth Rs. 20 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh in cash.

The case has still remained unsolved. Burglars have not spared even bank ATMs in the city. Incidents of thieves smashing ATMs with the intention of stealing cash have been reported from BTM Layout, J.P. Nagar, Old Madras Road and other areas. The police say many ATMs too do not have security guards.

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