Both ATMs were blown up by thieves in the early hours of Sunday morning.  The ABSA ATM in the Glencoe Spar Centre was destroyed as was the FNB ATM – barely 120 metres away – next to Pep Stores.

Witnesses said the bombers had apparently arrived in a minibus taxi at around 2am.  A guard was pistol-whipped at the Spar Centre before the ABSA ATM was blown up. The guard is in hospital.

It appears as if the red-dye in the money boxes was activated rendering the stolen cash useless.  Speculation is that the swift moving thieves realised this and turned their attention to the FNB ATM.  That too was blown up.

Bank officials said the money had been loaded into the machine on Friday but were unable to say how much had been taken.  The thieves opened fire on a passing Chubb patrol car but no one was reported injured.

Police are investigating several leads.