ALOR SETAR: Thieves used an oxy-acetylene blow torch and a metal cutter to prise open an automated teller machine (ATM) before escaping with more than RM100,000.

A security firm’s staff made the discovery at about 7.30am yesterday when he was on his rounds to check on ATM facilities near the Lembaga Tabung Haji building.

He saw that the “door” to the ATM had been opened and alerted his company before lodging a police report.

Jusnaidi Johari, 37, a technician of the security firm, said: “The employee spotted the break-in and upon inspection later, found that the alarm did trigger at 5.41am.

“That caused the thieves to panic and run away with whatever they got,” he said.

Apparently, the closed-circuit TV cameras at the ATM booth had been turned off during the theft.

There were two other similar incidents in Alor Setar last year.