Four, including two juveniles, were held for allegedly stealing cash from a private bank’s ATM in Arumbakkam by pasted a black sticker over the cash dispensing slot to prevent money from coming out.
The police said Godavari, 77, of Subbarao Nagar in Choolaimedu attempted to withdraw ₹10,000 from a private bank’s ATM on MMDA Colony Main Road in Arumbakkam on October 13. Though the cash did not come out, she received an SMS notifying her that the amount had been debited from her account.
Similarly, another customer who attempted to withdraw ₹2,000 from the same ATM did not get the cash, but received an SMS confirming the debit. Following a complaint from Godavari, a team from the crime wing of the Arumbakkam police station rushed to the spot and questioned a person found behaving suspiciously near the ATM.
The investigation revealed that the person was a 17-year-old juvenile. During questioning, the juvenile said he, along with three friends, had planned to steal the cash in the ATM by pasting a black sticker over the cash dispensing slot. The sticker prevented the cash from coming out when customers attempted withdrawals. After the customers left, the accused would remove the sticker and take the cash.
Based on the juvenile’s information, the police arrested Shakeel Ahmed, 19, and Mohammed Mubin Haq, 20, both from Kalangarbar in North Tripura. The police seized ₹53,200, including the complainant’s money, five mobile phones, including two iPhones, and materials allegedly used in the crime, including stickers, scissors, plywood, a blade, and a knife.
The investigation revealed that the accused had travelled from Tripura to Chennai and allegedly committed the offence. The two youth were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody. The two juveniles were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a government observation home.
Published – October 16, 2026 08:15 pm IST
