ROBBERS have made an early Christmas blitz on ATMs in Limpopo.

They blew out two ATMs and helped themselves to an undisclosed amount of money yesterday in two separate attacks.

The first was reported in Lebowakgomo, where a Capitec bank's ATM was robbed.

The second bombing, at another Capitec bank, happened about 100km away in Burgersfort, less than an hour after the first attack.

Lebowakgomo police spokesperson Captain Mamphaswa Seabi said the criminals broke the gate to the back of the entrance to the Capitec bank and cut the door lock to gain entry. Once inside they blew out the ATM.

Seabi said the police found torn pieces of bank notes next to the machine.

In the second attack about eight criminals held up a security guard at gunpoint before blasting the ATM with explosives.

They fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

Superintendent Ronel Otto said it was not yet known how much money was stolen from the Burgersfort ATM

"The Burgersfort incident happened less than an hour after the Lebowakgomo one but we are not as yet sure if the same people were responsible for the two incidents," Otto said.

She said fingerprint and forensic experts were called in to investigate and establish what kind of explosives had been used at both crime scenes.

"We appeal to members of the community who might have noticed any suspicious behaviour to report to a police station near them," Seabi said

Last month, after a tip-off, the police arrested seven robbers who tried to rob an FNB bank in Polokwane.

They were travelling in a car that was later found to have been hijacked in Kempton Park.