Coimbatore: Close on the heels of the latest ATM break-in episodes, the police have beefed up the security at night hours and deployed additional 400 police personnel for patrolling in the city.
Pointing out that the eight-member gang that broke open automated teller machines of two private banks on Thanneerpandal Road had a revolver with five live rounds in their car, city police commissioner K Periaiah said, "To face any eventuality, the police on night patrol have been asked to keep pistols with them."
The preliminary investigation revealed that the eight-member gang belonged to Meo tribe community from Mewat district in Haryana. "They are involved in seven ATM break-ins in Maharashtra, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Thrissur in Kerala. In Karnataka, they had taken away Rs 32 lakh by cutting open an automated teller machine of a bank. They are also involved similar crimes in Vadipatti in Madurai. We have alerted the Madurai and other state police about the gang's arrest," Periaiah said.
The city police commissioner reiterated that he had deployed 400 more police personnel in the city for night patrolling. "Assistant commissioners of police, inspectors of police and sub-inspectors of police on night patrol are advised to keep pistols with them to face any eventuality," Periaiah said.
The eight-member had taken away a total of Rs 30 lakh from the both ATMs in the city.
The city police also requested the people, who are hiring people from other states for jobs, to collect their details with Aadhaar card Xerox and thumb impressions. "This would help us in investigation in future," the city police commissioner said.
