No,the aliens haven’t landed...

On Sunday, a man walked into an ATM at Kandivali, and in a heist worthy of Danny Ocean and his crew, walked off with Rs 21 lakh from the machine. He was undetected by the camera inside as he was wearing a helmet.

We sent reporters Dippy Vankani and Rashmi Rajput incognito to see whether banks had woken up and tightened their security systems after this incident.

Dena Bank, S V Road, Malad (west)
Chupa Rustam: Dippy Vankani
What transpired: Dippy asked the watchman, Aatmaram, whether he could withdraw cash with his Bank of India debit card. Aatmaram rather helpfully showed Dippy a list of banks whose cards could be used, but did not even once ask him to remove the helmet

Popat banaya: When Dippy revealed his identity to Aatmaram and told him what he was up to, he said sheepishly: "Yes, I did hear about the Rs 21 lakh robbery. But how can I suspect every customer? My job is to keep an eye what a customer does inside."

Citibank, Dr B A Road, Parel
Chupi Rustam: Rashmi Rajput
What transpired: One needs to swipe the ATM card to enter this ATM centre. The watchman, who identified himself as Shinde, informed Rashmi about the same. When she went in, he followed and just as she was about to insert the card, he asked her to remove the dupatta from her face so that the camera could capture it.

Pakde gaye: "Madam you will have to uncover your face. You are not allowed to withdraw cash with your face concealed,” Shinde said.

Union Bank , Near Link Road, Malad (west)
Chupa Rustam: Dippy Vankani
What transpired: Watchman Mohammed Hussain was chewing tobacco when Dippy asked him whether there was cash in the machine. Hussain said there was enough. Dippy used his BOI card and withdrew Rs 100. All this while Dippy was wearing a helmet and the watchman did not mind it at all.

Popat banaya: Hussain apologised profusely when Dippy revealed his identity. "It didn't strike me. Instructions have been given to us to not allow entry to people wearing helmets or concealing their faces in any way," he said.

ICICI Bank, Chembur market
Chupi Rustam: Rashmi Rajput
What transpired: There were quite a few people in the line when Rashmi, her faced covered with a dupatta, reached the ATM. Just to make herself more conspicuous, she asked the watchman (he identified himself only as Pavaskar) why there was such a long queue. He said two of the three machines were out of order. Rashmi had her face and head covered with a dupatta even while she spoke to the watchman. But he did not seem to mind. She withdrew Rs 100.

Popat banaya: When Rashmi identified herself and asked Pavaskar if he had heard of the Kandivli ATM robbery, he replied: "Yes, I know about it. I presumed you to be a Muslim and therefore I didn't ask you to reveal your face."

ICICI Bank, Link Road, Goregaon (west)
Chupa Rustam: Dippy Vankani
What transpired: Dippy was stopped at the door by the watchman, Khush Sharma. He showed Dippy a notice stuck on the door clearly mentioning that the customers were not allowed to conceal their faces in any way.

And then this...
HDFC Bank, Dadar TT
Rashmi, her face dutifully wrapped in a dupatta, waited for 15-20 minutes here but there was no watchman to test. This ATM is attached to the bank and it was surprising that it was left unguarded.

Source: www.mumbaimirror.com