The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Two arrested in connection with theft at bank ATM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Two arrested in connection with theft at bank ATM

Staff Reporter

`The two had noted down the security password before taking away the cash'

BANGALORE: The city police on Tuesday arrested a security guard and his relative in connection with the theft of Rs. 6.1 lakhs from Bank of India's ATM on 10th Main Road of HAL 3rd Stage on Sunday.

The police gave the name of the guard as Natarajan (28). His relative was Parthiban (22) of Kurachalapatti of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu.

The security guard had complained that he was smothered with a cloth soaked in a chemical by the thieves who took away the money.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Ajai Kumar Singh, Natarajan, working with SDB Sisco Security, was posted to the ATM four months ago.

A few days before the incident he had called his relative, Parthiban, to the ATM and they had noted down the 12-digit security password number when money was being loaded into the ATM.

"Natarajan and Parthiban later used the number and opened the chest. But they could not remove the money as the alarm went off," Dr. Ajai Kumar Singh said.

At 2.30 a.m. on Sunday, Natarajan and Parthiban opened the chest of the ATM and removed Rs. 6.1 lakhs, after disarming the alarm, he said. It was on the suggestion of Natarajan that Parthiban took the money to the former's native Kuruchalapatti.

Contradictory statements

It was Natarajan's statements that made the police suspect him. "First he said that the money was taken away by three persons who had smothered him. He later said that those involved in servicing the uninterrupted power supply (UPS) unit of the ATM had committed the offence. He also gave another statement which was different from the earlier two," Dr. Ajai Kumar Singh said.

During interrogation, Natarajan admitted that he was involved in the offence, he said. He took the police to a house in Kuruchalapatti where Parthiban was staying. The police recovered Rs. 6.1 lakhs from Parthiban.

Concern

Talking to presspersons on Tuesday, Dr. Ajai Kumar Singh expressed concern over the quality of the security services being provided by the private agencies.

Dr. Ajai Kumar Singh said the ATM did not have CCTV. "I will shortly call a meeting of the general managers of the nationalised banks and bring the lack of security at ATMs to their notice," he added.

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