Delhi Police has arrested a gang of five thieves who used to bust ATM machines. The police have recovered pistols and knives from the thieves.

The gang used to rob ATM machines in Delhi (India Today image)

Delhi Police on Friday arrested a gang of five thieves that used to bust ATM machines in the national capital. The thieves, known as the Mewati gang, used to commit crimes like breaking ATM machines, cloning of ATM cards and kidnapping.

The police arrested the five members of the gang by acting on a tip that they were coming to Kalkaji to commit a crime. When on Thursday evening the police got a substantial tip that the gang was roaming in the Nehru place area, the cops started their search. At about 8.00 pm, the police team noticed that five persons sitting in a Hyundai Santro car were driving slowly and stopping the car near ATM booths and search an easy target in Nehru Place.

Soon the robbers stopped at the BSES Post Office ATM in Nehru Place with an intention to break into it. But the police foiled the robbery and nabbed them. According to an official, the robbers had tried to run away but were apprehended after a chase of almost a kilometre.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mufeed, Kayam, Rizwan, Nasir and Tarif - all residents of Hathin, Palwal in Haryana. The police recovered two country-made pistols with live cartridges and three buttondar knives from their possession.

On checking in the car, the police also recovered one cutter, one rope and one iron rod which used to break ATM machine.

During interrogation, all accused disclosed that they were unemployed and committed crimes to live a lavish life. They said that they used to target ATM machines where the security guard was not present.