KARACHI: A private bank’s operations manager has allegedly been identified as the mastermind behind the theft of Rs5.37 million from an ATM in Karachi. The incident occurred on Aram Bagh Road during the night of August 7.
Police later arrested the operations manager, Arsalan, and his alleged accomplice, Rehan, with the help of surveillance footage and other investigative methods. Authorities also recovered Rs2.9 million from the stolen cash. Meanwhile, investigators are working to trace the remaining amount.
Bank Manager Used Access to Open ATM
According to police, Arsalan used his official access keys to unlock the ATM. He allegedly wore a burqa and face mask to conceal his identity during the theft. The suspects also attempted to disable surveillance inside the ATM. They reportedly placed chewing gum over the CCTV camera to block its view.
Police used technical data, human intelligence and surveillance from the surrounding area to identify the suspects. Investigators arrested both men within 24 hours of the incident. They recovered a significant portion of the stolen money during the operation.
However, Rs2.47 million remains unaccounted for. Police are continuing their investigation to determine where the remaining cash went and whether anyone else assisted the suspects.
Earlier Karachi Bank Robbery Attempt Foiled
The latest case comes shortly after another attempted bank robbery in Karachi’s Central district. Last week, three armed suspects reportedly entered a bank, including one person disguised in a women’s burqa. The suspects arrived at the branch around 12:45pm, according to the FIR registered at Bilal Colony Police Station. The bank’s operations manager, Farukh, activated the emergency alarm during the attempted robbery. The siren immediately alerted those inside the branch and disrupted the suspects’ plan.
The three suspects panicked and fled without taking any cash. Meanwhile, bank employees took cover beneath their desks during the incident. The two cases have highlighted the security challenges facing financial institutions. Police are now investigating the ATM theft further while attempting to recover the remaining stolen money.
