Interstate gangs target jewellery shops, ATMs on Hyderabad outskirts for quick escapes

Interstate gangs are increasingly targeting jewellery shops and ATMs on Hyderabad’s outskirts for quick getaways using highways and ORR routes. Recent cases in Chandanagar, Adibatla and Choutuppal highlight a trend, prompting police to urge traders to enhance security measures

Hyderabad: Interstate gangs now seem to be preferring jewellery shops, banks, financial institutions and ATM centers located on city outskirts to loot and make good their escape.

Consider the recent Chandanagar incident, where six masked men entered the Khazana jewellery store on the main road, shot at the deputy manager and escaped with silver ornaments.

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The gang came to Hyderabad from Bihar, took a house on rent and planned the operation. After committing the dacoity, they escaped to neighbouring Karnataka via the Sangareddy road. “Business establishments and financial institutions or ATMs on city outskirts are selected by the criminals to facilitate their escape post the offense. The escape routes are decided at the stage of planning itself,” said an official of Cyberabad Special Operations Team.

In the Adibatla SBI ATM heist reported in March, the Haryana-based gang came to the city and made away with Rs 29 lakh from a cash chest of an ATM centre. “The gang selected Adibatla due to its proximity to the highway and the outer ring road. The gang used highways and ORR service roads to escape,” recalled a police official from Rachakonda.

In a similar case in April, the burglars cut open an ATM in Choutuppal and decamped with Rs 12.9 lakh in cash.

In another case at Kompally, reported last year, two offenders, including one wearing a burqa, barged into a jewellery shop and tried to loot it after threatening the owner. However, they fled when the shop owner raised an alarm. “The gang selected the shop as it was located on a remote highway and it would take some time for the police to reach the spot. Both of them were later caught,” said an official.

The police, on their part, are asking business establishment owners, in particular gold and silver traders, to enhance security in view of recent incidents.

Recent cases

August 12, 2025: Six men targeted Khazana jewellery store at Chandanagar and decamped with around seven kilograms of silver ornaments.

April 10, 2025: Burglars open ATM cash chest on outskirts of Hyderabad, decamp with over Rs 12 lakh.

March 2, 2025: A five-member gang allegedly broke into an automated teller machine (ATM) at Ravirala in Adibatla and escaped with Rs 29.69 lakh.

June 20, 2024: Two men, one of whom came clad in a burkha, made a vain bid to loot a gold shop at Kompally.