Ajman: A three-member gang’s attempt to rob an ATM in Ajman was foiled by the bank’s advanced security system. Ajman Police arrested the gang within 48 hours of the incident.
Taking advantage of maintenance work being carried out in the area, the suspects used a welding torch and other innovative tools to and try and break open the ATM machine, but the security system employed by the bank foiled the attempt. The suspects then fled the scene.
The incident that took place at around 3.30am was recorded by the ATM’s surveillance cameras. The police operations room received a call from bank staff at 7.30am on the same day.
Police at the scene of the crime found signs of tampering on the ATM machine.
Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Saif Khalfan Al Matroushi, Director of Criminal Investigation Department at Ajman Police, said footage from the surveillance cameras helped them trace down and arrest the suspects. All confessed to the crime.
Lt Col Al Matroushi said footage showed three masked men wearing gloves and dark glasses holding a small gas cylinder, which was painted black to camouflage it. They also had other tools. The footage also showed their getaway car had a silver wheel cap. This was key to the arrest of the suspects.
A special team was formed to investigate case, which began to look for the car. It was eventually found parked in a residential area without a number plate.
Lt Col Al Matroshi, observed that this was the first time such a method was employed to rob an ATM in Ajman.
He said Ajman is the only emirate where all banks, gold markets and money exchanges are connected with the police operations room since 2007.
Ajman Police is working on plans to deter robberies and help banks to secure their assets.
This is the second such incident in the country in the past one month. On January 3, a gang of four had attempted to steal from an ATM in Al Ain. The attempt was foiled by an alert Emirati youth and the gang was arrested within 24 hours.
