Hyderabad ATM thieves held in Mahabubnagar

Mahbubnagar: The Mahbunagar police arrested six persons of a seven-member gang that allegedly looted Rs 41.07 lakh from an SBI ATM at Jadcherla on Friday, and seized Rs 12.07 lakh from them. The gang had on September 29 looted an ATM at Signal Gadda under Badhepally branch, said Mahbubnagar superintendent of police Rema Rajeshwari.

The gang took just seven minutes to cut upon the Jadcherla ATM and decamp with the booty, she said. The gang hails from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and is wanted in Delhi Maharashtra, Haryana, and Hyderabad, the SP said. The accused were involved in 57 crimes across the country and was known to have opened fire against the police on previous occasions.

The gang used to use gas cutters to cut open the shutters of the kiosks and the ATM vaults and steal money. The gang flies into the targeted area, and drives to the ATMs in cars. They get information of ATMs from local criminals who also help them acquire equipment like gas cutters.

The SP said the gang goes to the ATMs wearing masks, and breaks the CCTV cameras to avoid being identified.

The accused on arrival to Hyderabad made contact with one Mohammad Rahman, painter and car driver belonging to Talabkatta near Charminar, Hyderabad. He arranged for travel and the tools to cut open the ATM. Rajeshwari said Rahman helped the gang conduct a recce at ATMs in Mahbubnagar, Kothakota and Jadcherla, the police said.

Along with the Rs 12.07 lakh, the police also seized a car, oxygen cylinders, pipes, cutting plyer, screwdriver and three mobile phones of accused persons