They didn’t use guns, masks or even threatening notes passed to bank tellers.But an alleged international gang of cyberthieves managed to steal $45 million from thousands of ATMs in carefully coordinated attacks conducted in a matter of hours, federal authorities charged Thursday.

A four-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn charged that eight members of the alleged gang’s New York City crew alone stole approximately $2.4 million from nearly 3,000 ATMs across the metropolitan area in secret strikes carried out on two days in February.

“In the place of guns and masks, this cybercrime organization used laptops and the Internet,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch as federal authorities announced details of one of the largest 21st century versions of cyber-robbery yet uncovered. “Moving as swiftly as data over the Internet, the organization worked its way from the computer systems of international corporations to the streets of New York City, with the defendants fanning out across Manhattan to steal millions of dollars from hundreds of ATMS.”

Read More Hackers stole $45 million in ATM card breach.