The Warangal Police caught a seven-member inter-State gang at Kazipet on Sunday for stealing money from ATMs using a new trick. The gang put steel plates behind ATM cash dispenser shutters to block cash. Customers got debit alerts showing money was withdrawn, but no cash came out. After customers left, the gang used duplicate keys to collect the trapped cash. Central Zone DCP Kavitha said, “While customers received debit alerts indicating successful withdrawals, no cash came out of the machines. After the customers left the ATM premises assuming a technical fault, the accused re-entered using duplicate keys and retrieved the cash trapped inside the dispenser.” The gang was caught linked to a case at Kazipet police station. Police recovered ₹5.10 lakh cash, two cars, iron blades, duplicate keys, and seven mobile phones. The accused are Areef Khan (23), Sarfaraj Khan (24), Aas Mahmood (29), Shakun Khan (33), Aslam Khan (33), Sharukh Khan (27), and Sameer Khan (23), all from Alwar district, Rajasthan. They work various jobs like driving, farming, and mechanical work. Police said the first four accused formed the gang after training in Rajasthan with a former ATM company worker. They targeted ATMs from one private company using iron plates to block dispenser shutters. After Rajasthan increased ATM security, the gang moved to other States. They operated in Warangal during November and December in Kazipet, Subedari, Hanmakonda, and Mills Colony areas. Early Sunday, they tried the scam at an SBI ATM in Kazipet but were caught. This arrests stop the gang’s ATM thefts in the region.