Seven of inter-State gang arrested for ATM theft using shutter tampering trick in Warangal

The Warangal Police have unearthed a new modus operandi involving attention diversion and tampering of ATM cash dispenser shutters to steal money, with the arrest of a seven-member inter-State gang at Kazipet on Sunday.

According to Central Zone DCP Kavitha, the accused targeted specific ATMs by inserting steel plates behind the cash dispenser shutters, blocking the cash from being dispensed.

“While customers received debit alerts indicating successful withdrawals, no cash came out of the machines. After the customers left the ATM premises assuming a technical fault, the accused re-entered using duplicate keys and retrieved the cash trapped inside the dispenser,” she added.

The gang was arrested in connection with a case registered at Kazipet police station and cash amounting to ₹5.10 lakh was recovered, along with two cars, iron blades, duplicate keys and seven mobile phones.

The arrested accused were identified as Areef Khan (23), Sarfaraj Khan (24), Aas Mahmood (29), Shakun Khan (33), Aslam Khan (33), Sharukh Khan (27) and Sameer Khan (23), all hailing from Alwar district of Rajasthan and engaged in various occupations including driving, farming and mechanical work.

Police said accused no. 1 to 4 were habitual offenders who had formed a gang after being trained in Rajasthan by a person who previously worked with an ATM maintenance company. They selectively targeted ATMs maintained by a particular private company, using iron plates to block the cash dispenser shutters. After security measures were enhanced in Rajasthan, the gang shifted operations to several States.

During November and December, the gang moved to Warangal district and resumed operations within the limits of Kazipet, Subedari, Hanmakonda and Mills Colony police stations, the DCP said. Early on Sunday, when the gang had attempted to repeat the offence at an SBI ATM in Kazipet, they were nabbed.