MANDYA: A gang of five thieves that had stolen a sum of nearly Rs 21 lakh from an ATM kiosk two months ago was arrested by Mandya police recently. The five thieves had looted the ATM kiosk near the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Bus Stand in Maddur town on April 11.
Police said that those arrested hailed from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states. “They worked as tender coconut vendors, and frequently visited Maddur town, at the tender coconut market. They had been living in a rented house near the market,” police said.
Losses in their trade impelled the five tender coconut vendors to hatch a plot to loot the ATM. They reportedly used a gas cutter to break open the ATM machine, which they subsequently emptied, and laden with cash, returned to their respective states. Acting on leads from informants, coupled with evidence obtained through technical means, teams were deployed across Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
It was in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh that the first arrest in connection with the case was made. “The man who was held spilled the beans, which helped police track and arrest the remaining members of the gang,” Mandya police said.
Cops have seized the gas cutter and mobile phones used by the thieves. Police are yet to get the loot from the gang.
