PETALING JAYA: It was a wretched day for robbers yesterday when they bungled in their attempts to empty a cash deposit machine and rob a goldsmith.

In the first incident in Taman Kinrara, Puchong, two men tried to blow up a cash deposit machine at the CIMB branch with firecrackers, but the explosion only damaged the top of the machine.

The powerful explosion also damaged part of the ceiling but failed to break the safe box in the machine. The robbers fled empty-handed after the alarm went off.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said it was about 5.45am when the two suspects, in full-face helmets and jackets, walked up to one of the two cash deposit machines.

Footage from the closed-circuit television cameras showed the suspects placing firecrackers at the screen panel of the machine.

The suspects took cover outside the room before the explosion, which also damaged the CCTV.

"The robbers left when they realised that the explosion failed to blow open the cash deposit machine."

Policemen on patrol in the area spotted smoke billowing out of the building about 7am and discovered the attempted robbery. Forensic personnel were called in to identify the explosives used.

In the second incident, the quick-thinking manager of a goldsmith in Section 1, Wangsa Maju, thwarted a robbery by a man armed with a baton by setting off the alarm, scaring off the robber.

The robber walked into the shop at 11.30am and smashed three display cabinets. But before he could scoop up the jewellery, the alarm went off.

It is learnt that the manager, who was at the back of the shop, set off the alarm.

Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Zakaria Pagan said the alarm caused the robber to panic.

He added that at the time of the robbery, there were three workers at the outlet.