The city police on Tuesday arrested a 42-year-old man on the charge of stealing CCTV cameras and a CPU from four ATM centres in Kochi.
The accused was identified as Hidayath alias Ennath, a resident of Kaloor, an autorickshaw driver in the city.
The accused allegedly decamped with the CCTV cameras and other electronic equipment from ATMs during night.
“He first stole the CPU from an ATM of a public sector bank on September 21 and later lifted CCTV cameras from three other ATMs, including the one from where he had earlier made away with the CPU,” officials said.
During interrogation, the accused said he had no practical knowledge on installing electronic equipment and uninstalled the equipment by pulling its wires.
While the CPU, worth more than Rs.50,000, was sold to a scrap dealer for Rs.150, attempts to sell the CCTV camera sets failed.
The role of Hidayath came to light when the police verified the cases with auto drivers in the city. “A driver identified the suspect. Thus, we received details of the house he stayed. After checking with the house owner, we identified and arrested the accused on Monday night from Karakappallym,” an official said.
The accused was produced before the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate and remanded.