Five nabbed in attempted ATM robbery
|Published
The cash and items recovered from the arrest of four suspected ATM thieves, in Cato Manor, Durban. Picture: supplied The cash and items recovered from the arrest of four suspected ATM thieves, in Cato Manor, Durban. Picture: supplied
Durban police arrested four men in a sting operation involving ATM fraud, during the early parts of Wednesday morning.
According to spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mdunge, police had set up an observation point at an ATM in Booth Road, in the Cato Manor area, west of the city centre.
He said a plain-clothes police officer was at the scene when four men drove to the ATM at about 5am.
"... Three (of the men) posed as customers, whilst the fourth tampered with the ATM," he said.
Mdunge said as police approached the cash machine, the men got into their vehicle and escaped.
"Police gave chase and stopped the suspects’ car near Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital, where the suspects were searched and found in possession of various ATM bank cards from different banks. "
He said the men are believed to have distracted customers who were transacting at the ATM, while swapping their bank cards in the process.
Meanwhile, as police were searching the suspects' vehicle, a fifth man was believed to have approached officers with a bribe to release the alleged fraudsters.
Mdunge said R4 000 was offered in the exchange, which police pretended they would accept.
"The police played along with bribe proposal and as soon as he handed the money to the police, he was immediately placed under arrest for bribery."
The men, between the ages of 20 and 45, are expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court soon on related criminal charges. - IOL
E-mail Benita: benita.enoch@inl.co.za