Kochi: Fraudsters cheated thousands of rupees by manipulating ATMs of South Indian Bank here in Kochi.

The thief fixes a ruler-like equipment on the cash drawer of the ATM to block the customer from receiving the currency notes. He goes in once the customer leaves the counter to remove the equipment and collects the cash withdrawn by the customer. The thief has repeated the modus operandi in several ATM counters since August 18, a primary probe has shown.

The CCTV visuals of the theft are out.

Thieves replicated this trick at one ATM counter near Kalamassery seven times. Around 25,000 rupees were defrauded on August 18 and 19.

Eleven instances of theft have been noticed so far. Most of them are close to Kalamassery. Police have registered a case and started probe. They suspect that a north-Indian gang is behind the theft.