Inter-State ATM Theft Gang Busted; Five Arrested
The gang tried to steal cash by vandalising a Punjab National Bank ATM in Nizamabad and cutting it open using a gas cutter: Police
NIZAMABAD: Police on Friday arrested an inter-state ATM theft gang and seized stolen property. The Haryana-based gang had carried out ATM thefts in the undivided Nizamabad and Medak districts, as well as in Hyderabad, and had stolen cash worth several lakhs over the past few days.
The arrested accused were identified as Abdullah Khan, 40, a resident of Badli village in Punhana tehsil of Nuh district, Haryana; Mohammad Ameer Ansari, a student residing at Prashanth Nagar, Begumpet, Hyderabad, and a native of Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra; Wazib Khan alias Chora Wazib, 26, a resident of Bhadan Gak village near Badi Masjid in Nuh tehsil, Haryana; Mohammad Azeeb alias Nattu, 30, of Gajarpur village in Mewat tehsil, Nuh district, Haryana; and Shamoddin alias Ikram, 30, of Ata Chakki, Killoka village, Hathin tehsil, Palwal district, Haryana.
Police said the gang tried to steal cash by vandalising a Punjab National Bank ATM in Nizamabad and cutting it open using a gas cutter. Following the directions of Nizamabad Commissioner of Police P. Sai Chaitanya, a special team was formed to investigate the case. Based on CCTV footage, the accused were identified and efforts were initiated to trace them.
During vehicle checks at Nikhil Sai Crossroad, police stopped a vehicle in which the suspects were travelling after noticing wooden sticks and stones inside. On questioning, their involvement in ATM thefts came to light.
Speaking to reporters, Police Commissioner P. Sai Chaitanya said Abdullah and his associates had earlier committed ATM thefts in Udaipur in 2018, stealing lakhs of rupees, and were also involved in another ATM theft in Shivpuri, where ₹8 lakh was stolen. They were subsequently arrested and sent to jail.
He said that during this period, Mohammad Ameer, from Hyderabad, became acquainted with a girl from Madhya Pradesh through Instagram and brought her to his house. As the girl was a minor, her parents lodged a Pocso case, following which Shivpuri police arrested Ameer. While in jail, Ameer came into contact with Abdullah and other gang members, and later conspired to carry out ATM thefts in Telangana, the Commissioner added.
