CCTV: Thief's ATM explosion attempt backfires

WINNELLIE, Australia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Police in Australia's Northern Territory are searching for a man caught on CCTV attempting to break in to an ATM and fleeing when the machine explodes.

Footage released by Serious Crime Squad Detectives shows the man light an explosive at the ANZ bank ATM in Winnellie, a suburb of Darwin, at about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday before being blown off his feet by the ensuing explosion.

The man was knocked clear out of his sandals and fled barefoot and empty-handed, the video shows. Police said the man is suspected of being behind a similar ATM attack in the city on Christmas Eve.

"This behavior is extremely dangerous and there is absolutely no reward. This person is lucky to have escaped serious injury," Detective Acting Senior Sgt. Karl Day said.