A gang of six men, known as “F**k The Police,” has been sentenced to prison following the discovery of a nationwide ATM theft ring responsible for stealing approximately £700,000 from cash machines across the United Kingdom. Between February and December 2024, the group carried out raids on 51 ATMs, conducting around 3,300 separate withdrawals. Using sophisticated devices to bypass ATM security systems, the gang exploited cashpoints across the country while employing lookouts to monitor for police. Investigators later recovered chipboards programmed to bypass ATM security measures, as well as a dummy ATM imported from China, believed to have been intended for future criminal operations.
The six men sentenced include Razvan Verde, 31, considered the gang leader and directly involved in nearly £300,000 of the fraud, who was jailed for four years and four months. Gabriel Rosu, 33, played a key planning role and scouted ATM locations, receiving three and a half years. Constantin Boghiu, 25, made 35 trips targeting ATMs, linked to around £130,000 stolen, and was sentenced to three years and three months. Marius Chifan, 33, helped set up accounts, provide bank cards, and plan operations, receiving three years. Alexandru Militaru, 25, was involved in fraud totalling nearly £100,000 and received two years and five months. Christian Cimpoesu, 28, had previously been sentenced in October for involvement in ten ATM incidents and received one and a half years. Additional members are expected to be sentenced in upcoming hearings, with all facing potential deportation after serving their sentences.
The investigation, led by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit in the UK, involved close cooperation with Romanian law enforcement and international partners including Europol and Eurojust. Detectives stated that the gang had flaunted a lavish lifestyle, believing themselves to be “above the law,” but they underestimated the effectiveness of a coordinated international police response.
Authorities have warned that the gang’s use of advanced bypass devices represents a dangerous evolution in ATM fraud. Banking providers have been urged to strengthen cooperation with law enforcement and upgrade security measures. Following the sentencing, banks and ATM operators have reportedly begun reviewing ATM-security protocols. Officials emphasized that organized fraud rings remain a serious threat, but the successful cross-border operation demonstrates that crime does not necessarily pay.
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