2 ATM thieves arrested in Hyderabad, cash recovered

The police arrested Mohammad Amir and Mohammed Abdul Afridi on Monday while six other accused - Sajid, Azhar, Shahid, Azad, Junaid, and Mohammed Abid Khan - are absconding, many of whom are from Haryana.

According to the police, the gang is well-versed in the workings and mechanism of ATMs and alarm systems. They recce isolated ATMs, spray black paint on the CCTV cameras, and cut the front portion of the ATMs without touching the wires with a gas cutter.

On 11 October 2019, Amir, Afridi, and Mohammed Farooq were arrested by the Abdullapurmet police and sent to Cherlapally jail. Afridi was sent to a juvenile home. It was in prison that they met some inmates from Haryana and formed a gang.

Once released, Amir and Afridi would recce isolated ATMs for Sajid and his gang. On 11 November, Sajid, Azar, Shahid, and Abid came to Nampally by train where they were picked up by Amir and Afridi. Two days later, they went to Charminar and purchased an Oxygen and an LPG cylinder. They recced ATMs from LB Nagar crossroads to Charminar. The same day, Aazad and Junaid came Hyderabad. Later that night, the gang went to an SBI ATM in Choutuppal, broke it open, and tried to steal the money. However, they saw a police patrol car and fled the spot.

On 15 November, Amir along with Sajid, Azar, Shahid, and Junaid found another SBI ATM at Mansoorabad. This time they were successful and managed to steal the money from the ATM. They fled the spot and reached Adilabad where they distributed the stolen money.

On Monday, the Rachakonda police apprehend Amir and Afridi and recovered cash worth Rs. 30,000.