India sees surge in ATM thefts using glue stickers and machine uprooting

Police in Tamil Nadu arrested two men from Tripura who had affixed a sticky substance inside the cash slot of an ATM in Puzhal, stealing about ₹30,000 before being caught. The duo, Rajib Alam (30) and Niyazuddin (22), were identified from CCTV footage, produced before a magistrate and placed in judicial custody, with part of the money recovered.

Meanwhile, organised interstate gangs from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh continue to target standalone ATMs across Rayalaseema. In the past three months, machines have been uprooted, transported and broken open in Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai and Annamayya districts, resulting in multiple cash losses despite tightened security measures. The gangs use stolen or forged vehicle numbers and exploit the proximity to Bengaluru for rapid getaways. Police investigations link several incidents to the notorious Mewat gang and have stepped up intelligence sharing with neighboring states.