Delhi cop loses Rs 6 lakh in gaming, scripts ATM thefts to recover losses

GURGAON: A Delhi Police constable allegedly turned to crime after losing Rs 6-7 lakh in online gaming, recruiting a team of gas-cutters, training them with YouTube tutorials and plotting a series of ATM break-ins that netted over Rs 12 lakh in less than a month.Ironically, the man accused of scripting the heists from behind the scenes never reached the crime spot and was cheated by his own gang, which allegedly pocketed the stolen cash without giving him his promised share.Hukamchand (34), posted with a PCR unit in Delhi Police’s south-west district, was arrested along with four others in connection with two ATM thefts in Faridabad. Another accused, Raju, is lodged in a Bihar jail in an unrelated motorcycle theft case and will be brought to Haryana on a production warrant.Police said Hukamchand, under financial stress after losing money in online gaming, devised the plan to target ATMs for quick cash. He roped in his nephew, Arvind, from Atali village in Faridabad, and Vikas Kumar of Bihar. Vikas and Raju, both experienced in gas welding, were tasked with cutting open the machines.The first theft was carried out on the night of July 3, when Vikas and Raju allegedly used a gas cutter to break open a Hitachi Money Spot ATM at Bhupani Mod and escaped with Rs 6.5 lakh. The two then fled to Bihar and allegedly kept the entire amount, leaving Hukamchand and Arvind empty-handed.ACP (crime) Aman Yadav said Hukamchand was the mastermind despite never visiting the crime scene. “He met the accused at a welding shop in Machhgar village. Realising they were skilled with gas-cutting equipment, he suggested they could earn more by breaking open ATMs,” Yadav said.Hukamchand, police said, studied YouTube videos showing how ATM cash cassettes were positioned and shared the clips with the gang. He allegedly identified ATMs without night guards, surveyed vulnerable locations and passed on the details, while the others executed the break-ins.After Raju was arrested in Bihar in another case, Vikas allegedly distanced himself from Hukamchand and formed a new team with relatives Vishal Kumar and Abhishek Kumar. The trio is accused of stealing Rs 5.7 lakh from another Hitachi ATM near JCB Chowk in Sector 58 on the night of July 26.Police said Hukamchand was again denied a share. The gang also allegedly attempted a third ATM theft in Sector 58 but failed.Crime branch teams tracked the accused down using CCTV footage, technical evidence and surveillance before arresting Vikas, Vishal and Abhishek in Lucknow on Aug 2. Hukamchand, Arvind and the remaining accused were arrested later.Police said they would seek the accused’s remand to recover the stolen money and ascertain whether the gang was involved in similar ATM thefts in Haryana and neighbouring states.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Gurgaon | Silver Rate in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Petrol Price in Gurgaon | Diesel Price in Gurgaon | CNG Price in Gurgaon | LPG Price in GurgaonStay updated with the latest Gurgaon news. Download the TOI App.