Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Public Prosecution has successfully uncovered the details of an armed robbery against employees of a cash-handling company who were feeding an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

Three men, with the help of an accomplice within the cash-handling team, escaped with SR85,000 after holding the employees at gunpoint.

Investigators from the Public Prosecution used satellite technology to identify and pursue the perpetrators, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Sunday.

Investigations by the Public Prosecution revealed details of the attack, including prior planning by the perpetrators.

Surveillance cameras revealed that the men had visited the scene of the crime thrice before the incident in order to survey the location and determine how to safely escape after the theft.

The perpetrators divided the roles among themselves at the very scene of the crime. One of them disguised himself as a cleaner and carried a loaded pistol with him.

One of the employees at the money transportation company tipped off his accomplices on the arrival time of the cash vehicle at the location and the amount of money it would be carrying.

When the cash handlers arrived at the location and the moment they started feeding the ATM, the impersonator waiting at the scene pulled out his pistol and fired one shot in the air to intimidate the team.

Meanwhile, the criminals› accomplice in the cash-handling team frightened his colleagues by warning them on the dangers of resisting the criminals or attempting to fight back.

The «cleaner» then came forward pointing his pistol at the employees and took away the whole amount of cash. Another of his accomplice came on a motorbike took him along with the cash.

Both men quickly left the scene. Another accomplice was waiting in a private car a little away from the location of the ATM. The pair riding the motorbike got into the car and all of them escaped.

One of the perpetrators fled to a neighboring country, but was repatriated via the Public Prosecution and part of the stolen money was retrieved from him, giving another lead to the investigators, an informed source said.

The source said the criminals were charged with forming an armed gang with the intention of robbing employees feeding ATMs with cash. They were also charged with robbing SR850,000 at gunpoint.

The Public Prosecution also opened an investigation into the security capabilities of the money transportation company and how far it had complied with the standards to ward off the danger of robbery and ensure the safety of the company employees.