Rajkot police arrest interstate gang for ATM thefts

The Rajkot Crime Branch has apprehended three members of an interstate gang from Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district for a series of ATM thefts. The suspects, identified as Afas Ahmed Riyazat Ali, Arbaz Faiyaz Ahmed, and Shahid Khan Mohammed Salim, allegedly targeted State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda machines across 14 locations, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Mehsana, and Rajkot.

The gang utilized a specific method where they inserted aluminum strips into the cash dispenser boxes. This caused transactions to appear successful while the cash remained stuck inside the machine. Once the customer left, the suspects would return to remove the strip and retrieve the money.

Police intercepted the group in Rajkot while they were attempting to tamper with another ATM. Authorities seized approximately 1,12,200 rupees in cash, three mobile phones, a car valued at 3 lakh rupees, and various tools used in the thefts, totaling an estimated value of 4,45,200 rupees. The arrests have helped resolve three separate theft cases in Rajkot and Mehsana.