Tamil Nadu police arrest three men for series of ATM heists

Police in Tamil Nadu have arrested three men from West Bengal in connection with a series of ATM heists targeting the Chennai and Tiruvallur regions. The suspects, identified as SK Sameer, Sarbar Khan, and Rasool, allegedly posed as scrap collectors to scout locations before striking.

The arrests follow a September 5 theft near Vellavedu where the gang stole approximately Rs 12 lakh. This incident was part of a string of robberies occurring within a two-week period, including thefts in Somangalam and Gummidipoondi. In these cases, perpetrators used methods such as gas cutters and paint to disable CCTV cameras and bypass security.

The recent wave of crimes has highlighted significant security vulnerabilities in ATM kiosks. Investigations revealed that in one instance, a bank's alert system relayed information to a control room in Mumbai rather than local authorities, delaying the police response. While police have recovered a portion of the stolen cash, investigations continue to identify further associates in the organized gang.