Trio face court over ATM card thefts
Three men were arrested after allegedly stealing a bank card at an ATM in the Durban CBD. The gang have been linked to a number of bank card thefts in the city Three men were arrested after allegedly stealing a bank card at an ATM in the Durban CBD. The gang have been linked to a number of bank card thefts in the city
Durban - Three alleged gang members were due in court on Monday after they were nabbed by police using sophisticated cellphone and computer technology to intercept stolen bank cards in ATMs in the Durban CBD.
Police recovered a laptop, 12 bank cards and eight cellphones.
A car rented from Avis was also seized.
The three men - aged between 25 and 36 - were expected to face charges of theft and possession of stolen property in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Police hope to link them to many more cases in the province.
Durban Central police spokesman, Captain Khephu Ndlovu, said the gang, who lived and worked in KZN, were arrested at 6am on Friday by the tactical response team.
They had been operating since early that morning in Anton Lembede (Smith) and Joseph Nduli (Russel) streets.
Police had seen a suspicious silver Polo Vivo with three occupants.
Ndlovu said the vehicle was stopped and searched. “During the search it emerged the same suspects had stolen a woman’s bank card from an ATM at the corner of Anton Lembede and Dr Pixley KaSeme (West) streets.”
Ndlovu said it appeared the gang were using sophisticated cellphone and computer technology to activate the stolen bank cards.
“Initial investigations show that the gang target people at ATMs. They tamper with the machines, which makes it seems like the person’s card is being swallowed. When the person goes to get help, they remove the card.”
The pin was activated and money was withdrawn, Ndlovu said. He added that the laptop contained a list of hundreds of stolen credit and debit cards.
“They are using some sort of application online to activate these cards.”
He said the gang operated in the early morning, often at month-end when people were paid.
“We are appealing to people using ATMs to be extra vigilant and to only get help from bank employees. These suspects are often well dressed and fluent in English. They look like they can be trusted. But they are professional thieves,” he said.
Daily News