News

Foreign gang wanted over large-scale ATM theft!

Published

5 months ago

January 2, 2023

editor

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an investigation on the orders of the IGP to arrest a group of foreigners who hacked into three ATM machines of a state bank and stole over Rs.10 million.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Galle, Hikkaduwa and Baddegama Police revealed that the suspects have entered into the ATM booths and attached an electronic device to the ATM. They have taken all the money inside the machine by hacking into the machine’s software system.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that these foreigners had entered into three ATM booths of a State Bank located in Hikkaduwa, Karapitiya and Baddegama in the early hours of last 30th.

On the 26th, this group of foreigners had attempted to steal money by breaking into an ATM machine of another state bank in Narahenpita.

They have worn face masks and caps so that their faces could not be recognized.

Once the money was stolen from the ATM, the machine had still indicated that there’s money inside the machine. The bank officials were able to detect the theft when investigating this fact since money had disappeared without any customer withdrawing cash.

These foreigners had entered the bank in Hikkaduwa at around 1.40 am on the 30th. They had arrived in a car and withdrawn Rs.4,680,000 from the ATM machine.

Afterwards, they have gone to the ATM in Karapitiya at around 3.22 in the morning. They have only been able to withdraw Rs.275,000 since the security officer on duty at the bank had been present.

The third robbery had taken place at the Baddegama ATM where they stole Rs.5,700,000.

They have commited the crime by affixing a sticker to cover the security camera installed inside the ATM booth.

Investigation carried out into the number plate of the car in which the foreigners were travelling in, revealed that the car belongs to a person from Gampaha.

However, further inspections revealed that the suspects have used a vehicle with a fake number plate.

A senior police officer said that these foreigners have come from Ambalangoda and it appears that they have used the expressway.

He said that an investigation is being conducted into this as well.

Source: Dinamina

News

SL records highest export revenue last year

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2023

editor

The highest export revenue in Sri Lankan history, which was USD 13.1 billion, was recorded last year, Plantation Industries and Industries Minister Ramesh Pathirana said.

He said this when the Advisory Committee of the Ministry convened in Parliament recently.

The minister said that 22 car and three-wheeler assembling plants are currently operative in the country and through the restriction of imports, a great progress can be seen in the industries.

Many issues related to gems and jewellery, clay, cashews, cane and bamboo industries were brought to the attention of the committee by the MPs and the minister has given instructions to the officials including the ministry secretary to take immediate action in this regard.

The minister further said that industrial development will be carried out in 20 identified areas.

News

Family of pickpockets arrested!

Published

2 hours ago

June 8, 2023

editor

A man who got into buses with wife and three children and then stole mobile phones and wallets of passengers was arrested along with 5,200 milligrams of heroin, the Piliyandala Police said.

During the interrogation of the suspect, police found nearly 20 stolen mobile phones worth over Rs.1 million.

Piliyandala Crimes OIC IP Dinesh Hettiarachchi, who has been paying attention to several complaints received from youths and school children regarding the loss of mobile phones in buses, has arrested the suspect in Miriswatta based on CCTV footage.

A police officer said that the wife and three children were with the suspect at the time of his arrest, and the three children had started crying requesting not to take their father away.

The 33-year-old suspect, a resident of Pothupitiya in Wadduwa, failed to give a valid reason as to why he was in Piliyandala with his wife and children.

Investigations revealed that the mobile phones of school children and women in buses were stolen meticulously by the suspect along Route No. 138 Homagama-Pettah and Route No. 296 Piliyandala-Maharagama.

Police said that they were able to find the stolen mobile phones which had been sold at a very low price in Badowita, Mt.Lavinia and Pettah.

The suspect will be produced in the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court.

News

‘Murawatte Kabaraya’ hospitalized!

Published

2 hours ago

June 8, 2023

editor

A suspect, who was recaptured after escaping from the custody of the Kalutara Prison officers, was hospitalized due to injuries sustained after he banged his head against the iron door of the police cell, Panadura North Police said.

The suspect was identified as 32-year-old ‘Murawatte Kabaraya’, a resident of Koralawella, Moratuwa.

Police sources said that the suspect was arrested yesterday (07) by a group of officers of the crimes division.

He was admitted to the Panadura Base Hospital in a ‘Suwa Seriya’ ambulance.