Sangre Grande cops make breakthrough in ATM scam

Sangre Grande police yesterday made a major breakthrough in the Automatic Transaction Machine (ATM) scam. A 38-year-old man of Almond Drive, Morvant, was arrested, and instruments used to carry out illegal activities at various banks were seized by the police. Also seized were ATM transaction cards from Republic Bank, Royal Bank, Scotia Bank, First Citizens Bank and other financial institutions. According to police reports Detective Anil Baboolal went to the First Citizens Bank located at the Eastern Main Road, Sangre Grande,  to withdraw money around 9.15 am yesterday. While at the ATM machine he observed a  woman having problems using her card. He continued observing while awaiting his turn to use the machine, when he saw a man neatly dressed in a suit come to the lady’s assistance. He continued looking on and saw the lady leave without her card.

The man who assisted the woman remained under surveillance by Det Baboolal and was seen using an instrument after the lady left. He subsequently got her card out of the machine. The man then placed the card into the slot and was about to make a transaction. Det Baboolal then identified himself and held the man. The arrested man was taken to the police vehicle which was parked outside of the bank with three other officers; Cpl Russel Gopaul, Dets Chris Edwards and Jason Osouna. The officers went to Baboolal’s assistance. He was searched by the officers,  and in his possession  various instruments which he told the police he used for his illegal activities were found. On further checking the man, the police discovered several ATM cards from various banks.

He was taken to the Sangre Grande Police Station, where he was further interrogated by senior police officers; Insp Edmund Thomas and Sgt Fermin Roy of CID. He told the officers it was his first day in Sangre Grande and reportedly confessed to robbing people of their ATM cards and using the cards for his personal gain.  A check was run on the arrested man via the police computer. Records revealed that he is wanted on several accounts of similiar activities in Tobago, and Trinidad. The arrested man is to be charged for fraud and trafficking of ATM cards pending ID parades   and visits from other police officers from different stations, who said the man has been on the run for quite a while. Members of the Fraud squad are also expected to interview the arrested man. Sen Supt Ruthven Bastien complimented his officers for their dedication and observation in arresting the man.