That's what I thought too. Robbers probably aimed for the cash inside that ATM, but unfortunately It seems like the ATM wasn't really used that much for the people nearby to purchase bitcoin using that ATM. I am also wondering, there might be some cash inside since it might offer deposit and withdrawal feature like the fiat ATM. I didn't take a time to read the article though, dont know how the story goes, but if the Robbers were actually aiming for some physical Bitcoins, then I don't what else to say other than asking them if they just came out from the cave LOLOL!
Although a thief in a cave cannot obtain Bitcoin from an ATM, it is not accurate to claim that 'Bitcoin cannot be robbed'. To this day, there are still numerous cases of theft and scams involving Bitcoin. Hackers can still target all our data, which poses a threat to the wallets we keep secure.
As of now, I can still assert that Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) are safe from thieves who are not familiar with the internet, technology, or blockchain. What we've been reading in the news is mostly about Bitcoin wallets with substantial balances. However, cases of Bitcoin wallets being hacked with small balances are not widely publicized. That means there's still a significant number of incidents that go unreported.
I think it's critical to distinguish between physical robbery of a Bitcoin ATM and virtual theft of Bitcoin. The former, as you've humorously pointed out, is an exercise in futility. Cryptocurrencies exist in the digital realm; one cannot "rob" them in the conventional sense.
However, you're correct that Bitcoin is not immune to theft. Sophisticated hacking techniques can compromise wallets, and phishing scams can trick individuals into revealing their private keys. We've witnessed these in the numerous high-profile security breaches that have hit crypto exchanges in recent years.
I'd suggest the discourse should focus on strengthening the security infrastructure of cryptocurrency systems. This involves stringent regulation of exchanges, educating users on secure handling of their private keys, and promoting hardware wallets for long-term storage. That's the way forward, don't you think?