ATM card thief arrested, 78 cards of various banks seized in Vijayawada

Krishnalanka police arrest ATM cards thief with 78 cards and ₹2 lakh cash, involved in 25 cases across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The Krishnalanka police on Friday arrested a notorious ATM cards thief, Chintala Suresh (47), who was booked in about 25 cases in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Police seized 78 cards of various banks and ₹2 lakh cash from his possession.

Explaining the modus operandi in Vijayawada on Friday, South Zone Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) U. Bangaru Raju said that the accused will move near the ATM centres and pretend to assist illiterate people and senior citizens after taking their PIN number. Later, he would replace the actual cards of his targets with cards of other customers stolen at other ATMs, then draw money and escape, he said.

“The accused committed thefts at the ATMs in Kodad, Huzurnagar, Kankipadu, Suryapet, Tadepalligudem, Ravulapalem, Amalapuram, Nandigama, Kadapa, Nandyal, Vuyyur, Vijayawada, Tadepalli and other places in the two Telugu States,” said Krishnalanka Circle Inspector S.S.V. Nagaraju, who arrested the accused.

Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekar Babu appreciated the Krishnalanka police for arresting the thief committing crimes for the past seven years.