The MVP Police on Wednesday cracked the sensational ATM theft case that took place between June 24 and 28.
The police arrested two B. Tech students from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and the youth allegedly confessed that they were inspired by videos on how to commit the crime on YouTube. The thieves had made good with ₹ 4.92 lakh within a span of four days by swiping debit cards about 51 times.
The arrested were identified as Swapnil Singh (22) of Kushinagar district and Satyarath Mishra (20) of Faizabad. Both are pursuing second year in Computer Science Engineering (CSE) at a university in Kanpur.
Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Dwaraka Zone) Ramachandra Rao said there was an ATM theft case in Gujarat a few years ago and several videos on the modus operandi were uploaded on YouTube. And the youth picked it up from YouTube.
The ACP said the offenders managed to get a duplicate key of the ATM and they probably have a bank account in which there is some cash. While one would swipe the card and feed the PIN, the other would switch off the machine after hearing the counting sound and when the cash is ready for delivery in the upper trap. Then using the key they open the upper panel and make good with the cash.
In a normal case, the amount would go back to the inbuilt locker, but in this case, as the person had opened the upper panel and has taken the amount, it will not show as a debit entry in the account, as the cash transaction has failed, but the cash would go missing, explained the ACP.
The duo had reportedly used four ATM cards and made 51 such attempts through which they withdrew ₹ 4.92 lakh. The accused made these attempts in between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. on all the four days. The incident came to light during the end of month after bank authorities found fault and reported it to the local police.
Police investigation revealed that after the offence, the students left for Kanpur. The duo have reportedly purchased high-end bikes, smartphones, gold chains and gold rings.Mr. Rao said that such offences could be only possible if the ATM machine is not upgraded.
