Hyderabad: In a significant breakthrough, the Rajasthan police managed to apprehend a notorious gang of ATM thieves who had been terrorizing the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The operation, which unfolded two days ago at the Jaipur airport, led to the capture of five criminals identified as Zubair (32), Lukman Dean (37), Saddam (35), Mushtaq (28), and Idris (29), all hailing from the Deeg area of Rajasthan's Bharatpur district. These individuals are believed to be members of a notorious gang known as the 'Mewat Gang,' consisting of approximately 100 fraudsters.
Investigations conducted by the police have revealed that this gang had been operating a highly organized and lucrative criminal enterprise for seven long years, looting crores of rupees from ATMs across various states. Their most recent escapade involved the illegal withdrawal of funds from the ATM of Bhadradri Urban Co-operative Bank in Telangana.
The modus operandi employed by these criminals was nothing short of audacious. They would initiate their criminal activities by pilfering ATM cards from unsuspecting victims in the Bharatpur and Alwar regions of Rajasthan. Once equipped with these stolen cards, they would board flights to their targeted states, meticulously planning their heists to avoid detection.
To blend in and avert suspicion, the gang members would don suits and boots, assuming an appearance that did not align with the stereotypical image of criminals. Upon reaching their chosen rural areas, they would set their sights on ATMs, usually operating as a pair. One gang member would position themselves inside the ATM booth, while the other would monitor the nearby power supply infrastructure. At a strategically timed moment, just as the money was about to be dispensed from the ATM, they would cut off the power supply to the machine.