YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/.  Members of a trade center ATM robbery gang were detained in the vicinities of Moscow, press service of Moscow area department of internal affairs told RIA Novosti.

During half a year the gang earned solely from ATM robberies in trade centers. The criminals managed to steal 15 ATMs and a total of about one million dollars, says the report. The gang was caught red-handed, apart from the ringleader and two accomplices who disappeared.
But they were detained tonight, RIA Novosti was told.

The suspects were immigrants from Armenia who arrived in Moscow area seeking work.
Places of residence were searched and cars used to transport stolen ATMs were examined: the cars, as well as lots of mobile phones used for the crimes were confiscated.
The police established the detainees’ involvement in 15 similar crimes. They were also planning to steal another six ATMs at the end of the year.

A criminal prosecution has been initiated under “Theft” provision of the Penal Code. The offenders may get 10 years of imprisonment. –0--