Dhule Police Nab Two Suspects in Dramatic ATM Heist Attempt
In a late-night operation, the Dhule police successfully arrested two individuals accused of attempting to steal a cash dispenser from an ATM kiosk. The incident occurred early Saturday morning in Shirpur, Dhule district, highlighting a brazen attempt at theft that was thwarted by alert citizens and swift police action.
Suspects Identified and Apprehended
The police have identified the arrested men as Hemant Mali, aged 21, from Bhirdai in Dhule, and Vidur, also known as Vijay Jadhav, aged 40, from Vasantnagar in Parola, Jalgaon. Authorities captured the duo from their respective hometowns just hours after they managed to evade initial police efforts. This arrest marks the culmination of a tense pursuit that spanned multiple locations.
Alert Rickshaw Driver Triggers Police Response
At around 2:15 AM on Saturday, a rickshaw driver named Shahrukh Pinjari provided crucial information to the police. He reported seeing two people acting suspiciously near a pick-up van close to an ATM kiosk of a nationalised bank. This kiosk is situated in front of the Shirpur sub-district hospital. The police immediately relayed this tip to their night patrolling team, setting the stage for a rapid response.
High-Speed Chase and Escape Attempt
The patrolling team quickly located the van parked at one spot. As officers approached, the burglars sped away towards Shahada Phata. They then entered the Mumbai-Agra highway in a bid to escape into Madhya Pradesh. However, the Shirpur taluka police and Thalner police had already been alerted and established nakabandis, or checkpoints, along the route.
Faced with these barriers, the suspects abandoned their plan to cross into Madhya Pradesh. Instead, they made a sharp U-turn near Hadakhhed and took the Chopda road. Police pursued them relentlessly, with the burglars knocking down barricades set up at various points along the way.
After a 45-minute chase, the suspects realized the police would not give up. In a desperate move, they jumped from their moving vehicle and fled under the cover of darkness. Despite this temporary escape, their freedom was short-lived, as they were arrested a few hours later.
Investigation Reveals YouTube-Inspired Crime Spree
Inspector Kishorkumar Pardeshi from the Shirpur police station led multiple teams to identify the burglars. Initial investigations revealed that the vehicle used in the crime was purchased from Mumbai on January 9. Through technical analysis, police traced the buyers and made the arrests.
Dhule SP Shrikant Dhivare disclosed that the duo learned how to extract cash dispensers from ATM kiosks by watching tutorials on YouTube. After mastering this method, they bought the pick-up from Mumbai and gathered other equipment from scrap markets.
Their crime spree began on January 12 around 2 AM, when they attempted to pull out two cash dispensers from an ATM in Dhule city. A security alarm alerted the bank's security agency and police, forcing the burglars to flee and leave the dispensers behind.
On January 16, they tried again at an ATM in Amalner, Jalgaon district. Once more, police were alerted, and the suspects abandoned a cash dispenser containing Rs 24 lakh in cash. This third attempt in Shirpur, however, led to their arrest.
Police Praise Citizen Vigilance
SP Dhivare emphasized that the alertness shown by rickshaw driver Shahrukh Pinjari played a key role in preventing a major crime. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and contact police immediately by dialing 112 if they notice any suspicious activities in their areas.
