3 held for thefts at ATMs

Kakinada: Pithapuram Town police have arrested three persons – L. Uma Srinivas alias Manikanta and G. Durga Prasad of Irripaka village in Jaggampeta mandal, apart from M. Babu of Peddipalem village in Prathipadu mandal – on charges of stealing money from bank customers at ATMs.

Police recovered ₹1.42 lakh from the accused and produced them before AJFCM Court at Pithapuram. The court has sent them to remand for 14 days.

Giving details, Pithapuram circle inspector Y.R.K. Srinivas said the accused waited at various bank ATMs. When they saw any bank customers with no knowledge of using ATM cards, they helped them withdraw the money. But the culprits returned to them another card instead of their own. The accused subsequently withdrew amounts using the cards taken away by stealth.

Those cheated in this manner include Kadari Nagaraju of Durgada village, who lost ₹28,000; M. Subba Rao, who got swindled of ₹1.05 lakh, Amaladasu Appa Rao, who was cheated of ₹56,600 and Santha Kumari, who found ₹17,500 missing from her account.

Police said five old criminal cases have been pending against Manikanta.