The Warangal Central Crime Station and Kazipet Police have busted a Rajasthan-based gang responsible for high-tech ATM thefts, arresting seven members.
The gang studied technical flaws in ATMs manufactured by Brazilian multinational Perto, installed at State Bank of India ATM centres. They manufactured duplicate keys to open the ATMs and attached iron sheets to block cash dispenser slots, tricking customers into assuming machine malfunctions. Later, messages falsely indicating cash withdrawals prompted many victims to file complaints.
The accused, identified as Arif Khan, Sarfaraz, M Ash Mohammad, Shapus Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Aslam Khan, and M Sharukh, hail from Malkida Taluka, Alwar district, Rajasthan.
Initially, the gang targeted ATMs in Rajasthan, but after bank officials replaced old Perto machines with new ones, they expanded operations to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala, committing over 40 thefts. In Warangal, they stole Rs 12.10 lakh from seven ATMs since November.
A special investigation team led by Additional DCP (Crimes) Bala Swamy, ACP (Crime) Sadayya, and Kazipet ACP Prashanth Reddy apprehended the gang while they were trying to attach an iron plate inside a Perto ATM at Kazipet Chowrasta.
Police seized Rs 5.10 lakh, two cars, seven cell phones, iron plates, and duplicate keys from the accused. Sunpreet Singh commended the officers for their exceptional work in capturing the gang.
