A young man in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province who attempted to short-circuit ATM machines by pouring beverages into them says he was inspired by "foreign films," media reported Tuesday.
Qinhuai district police detained the suspect, surnamed Wang, earlier this month for causing an estimated 140,000 yuan ($22,039) in damages to three cash points with the sugary drinks.
Wang told police he was attempting to get them to malfunction and spit out cash, claiming to have gotten the idea from watching "foreign films," media reported.
Surveillance video at one bank ATM showed Wang empty two bottles into the machine then strike it twice.
Footage taken at the two other cash points revealed Wang committing similar acts.
Officers caught up with Wang at a local Internet bar, where he tried to shift the blame to his "twin brother."
Wang, a migrant worker, told police he attempted the harebrained scheme to cover a gambling debt.
