In a swift operation on Sunday night, the Miyapur police in Hyderabad apprehended a thief in the act of stealing cash from an ATM kiosk, thanks to the vigilance of a customer and a rapid police response.
How the ATM Theft Unfolded in Hafeezpet
The incident occurred around 11:30 pm on Sunday at an ATM centre located in Marthanda Nagar, Hafeezpet. A customer who visited the kiosk to withdraw cash encountered a problem: the money was not dispensed even though the transaction amount was debited from his bank account. Sensing that something was wrong, the complainant decided to wait nearby instead of leaving immediately.
His patience paid off. He soon observed a man entering the ATM kiosk and attempting to tamper with the machine. Without wasting any time, the alert citizen immediately contacted the police using the emergency 'Dial 100' service.
Swift Police Action Leads to Arrest
Acting on the real-time tip-off, a police team rushed to the spot. They arrived at the ATM centre moments after receiving the distress call and caught the accused, identified as V Katamayya (24), red-handed. Katamayya is a native of Georgepet village in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
According to the police, the accused had developed a method to exploit a specific vulnerability in a particular brand of ATM. "He inserts a plastic file strip through a narrow opening near the display unit, which blocks the cash dispensing mechanism," explained the police. "Once a customer leaves the kiosk after a failed transaction, he opens the top frame of the machine and removes the cash trapped inside."
Investigation and Wider Implications
The Miyapur police suspect that Katamayya may have been involved in similar ATM thefts in other parts of the city. Detective Inspector Ramesh Naidu stated that the accused would be interrogated thoroughly to ascertain further details and uncover any other offences.
In a significant move, the police also announced plans to alert the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) about the security vulnerability found in the ATMs manufactured by the concerned company. This step aims to prevent similar crimes nationwide by addressing the technical flaw at a systemic level.
Inspector Naidu urged citizens to remain vigilant. "We suspect that the accused might have committed a few more such offences in the city. We will interrogate him to collect all the details," he said, praising the alert customer whose quick thinking made the arrest possible.
