Chennai: Key ATM theft suspect reveals gang’s methods

CHENNAI: After the arrest of a key suspect, the city police got an in-depth understanding of the operations of ATM thieves.
Police made Aamir Arsh Allimuddin, who was held on June 23 for a spate of frauds worth several lakhs, stage thefts under their watchful eyes and took videos of his operations for trial and research. The 37-year-old thief was nabbed from a hideout in Ballabhgarh village near Faridabad, Haryana. Police said the gang of thieves split into groups and targeted SBI machines in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram and Vellore. The gang stole a total of Rs 48 lakh.
A team led by joint commissioner of police Narenthiran Nayar took Aamir to the SBI cash deposit machine in Choolai, from where he suspect stole Rs 15 lakh withdrawing bit by bit at least190 times. He also showed police how he stole cash from the ATM kiosk. These gangs would cover the censors while drawing money. Bank officials too were present for this unique demonstration so they too could take requisite steps to secure their equipment and the money.
Police froze two bank accounts belonging to the thieves. The gang deposited the cash to these accounts using machines of another bank in Kotturpuram. Police traced the flow of money from Chennai to fake accounts based in Haryana.
Police said the ringleader, Sathakathullah Khan of Ballabhgarh village in Faridabad, came down to Tamil Nadu and targeted about 19 SBI ATM/cash deposit machines in the state. The gang was behind nine ATM thefts reported in the city.
So far, three thieves involved in more than a dozen ATM thefts reported earlier this month have been arrested. The second suspect, Virendar Rawat, 23, was arrested last Saturday. Meanwhile, a third suspect, Najim Hussian, was arrested by a team from Haryana and was brought to Chennai by air on Tuesday night. Police took a transit warrant from Faridabad. He will be lodged in jail after being produced before a court on Wednesday.
Police are searching for at least 10 people involved in the racket.