Robbers in the city targeting ATM cards

Robbers in the city targeting ATM cards

The Hindu

Most of the victims are students and software professionals

# There are 506 ATMs in the city and its immediate surroundings
# People cautioned against withdrawing large amounts of cash from ATMs in lonely areas

Bangalore: There have not been many incidents of people being robbed immediately after withdrawing cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) but the police say there have been several cases of criminals withdrawing money from ATMs after forcing their victims to reveal their Personal Identification Numbers.

There are 506 ATMs in the city and its immediate surroundings, belonging to various domestic and international banks. Not all have round-the-clock security.

Robbery within ATM centres is considered risky among criminal elements because most have concealed cameras which film everyone using the cash withdrawal facility and in many cases even those using the "drop boxes" to deposit cheques. But there have been instances of people withdrawing cash late at night being followed and mugged.

In some cases, robbers have even taken their victims to the ATMs and forced them to withdraw cash. Many of the victims were either students from other States studying in medical and engineering colleges or software professionals.

Criminals note the tendency of most people withdrawing cash just before a weekend or holidays, when the ATMs are crowded and then follow them. There have been more cases of criminals making expensive purchases using stolen credit cards or those they forced victims to part with. During the holiday season last December, a woman executive of an export firm in Bommanahalli withdrew Rs. 6,000 from an ATM and was getting into a car.

Two young men, whom the police suspected were noticing her movements, told her the car's fuel tank was leaking. When she got down and was checking the fuel tank, the criminals made away with her bag carrying cash, a briefcase and her mobile phone, according to Madiwala police.

The High Grounds police recently arrested a man of Hebbal who allegedly stole a credit card and purchased electronic gadgets worth over Rs. 1 lakh. The police have been cautioning people against withdrawing large amounts from ATMs, especially those located in lonely areas, late at night.