Young woman who stole an ATM card to get money to celebrate her honeymoon

A twenty-six-year-old woman, accused of stealing ATM cards belonging to a businessman with the aim of securing the necessary provisions to celebrate her honeymoon, has been arrested by the Athurugiriya Police.

Investigations have confirmed that this theft was committed on the instructions of her boyfriend, who worked as a mason at the said businessman's construction site.

The mason had requested the businessman to provide accommodation for one night for his wife, who was coming to Colombo for a need. The businessman had informed that since he lives alone at home, accommodation could only be provided if the young woman's mother also accompanied her. Accordingly, the mason, who brought the young woman and her mother to the businessman's house, instructed the young woman to steal the businessman's ATM cards and then left.

The next morning, the two women left the house with the two ATM cards to meet the suspect mason. Subsequently, they first withdrew fifty thousand rupees using those cards, and after registering their marriage, they arranged to spend their honeymoon at a hotel in the Wadduwa area.

Meanwhile, the suspect mason, who was traveling towards Weligama, was arrested by the Weligama Police on an open warrant, and illegal drugs were also found in his possession at that time. After her partner was taken into police custody, this young woman went to the Matara area and withdrew money again using the stolen ATM cards to purchase two mobile phones and jewelry.

Following a complaint received regarding the incident, the Athurugiriya Police commenced investigations, and after observing CCTV camera footage from bank premises, identified and arrested the suspect. It has been revealed that this young woman, a resident of Siripura, Hambantota, is a mother of one child. Under the instructions of Athurugiriya Police Station OIC Chief Inspector Narada Fernando, a team of officers including Crime Investigation Division OIC Sub Inspector Abhishek is conducting further investigations into the incident.