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Barclays Bank computer theft: Eight held over £1.3m haul | Barclays Bank computer theft: Eight held over £1.3m haul |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Eight men have been arrested in connection with a £1.3m theft by a gang who took control of a Barclays Bank computer. | Eight men have been arrested in connection with a £1.3m theft by a gang who took control of a Barclays Bank computer. |
The money was transferred from the branch in Swiss Cottage in north London in April, a Met Police spokesman said. | The money was transferred from the branch in Swiss Cottage in north London in April, a Met Police spokesman said. |
Searches are being carried out at addresses across London where property including cash, jewellery, drugs and credit cards has been seized. | Searches are being carried out at addresses across London where property including cash, jewellery, drugs and credit cards has been seized. |
An attempt to steal from Santander last week is being linked to the theft. | An attempt to steal from Santander last week is being linked to the theft. |
Four men have appeared in court charged with attempting to take control of computers at the Santander branch in Surrey Quays, south-east London. | Four men have appeared in court charged with attempting to take control of computers at the Santander branch in Surrey Quays, south-east London. |
Det Supt Terry Wilson said the Barclays investigation was being carried out by the same police team. | Det Supt Terry Wilson said the Barclays investigation was being carried out by the same police team. |
However he said the latest arrests "are a different level, it's really the top tier of this criminal network that have been arrested". | However he said the latest arrests "are a different level, it's really the top tier of this criminal network that have been arrested". |
He added: "This was a highly-organised criminal network with each individual filling a specific role. | |
"All criminal networks have a head and we very much believe we have now apprehended our 'Mr Big' as part of this operation." | |
The men, aged between 24 and 47, were arrested on Thursday and Friday. | The men, aged between 24 and 47, were arrested on Thursday and Friday. |
Following the report of the theft, police found a "keyboard video mouse" (KVM) switch attached to one of the branch's computers. | Following the report of the theft, police found a "keyboard video mouse" (KVM) switch attached to one of the branch's computers. |
It had had been placed there by a man purporting to be an IT engineer the day before the theft on 5 April. | It had had been placed there by a man purporting to be an IT engineer the day before the theft on 5 April. |
Infiltrate and exploit | Infiltrate and exploit |
A KVM switch, which has a 3G router attached, allows a user to control multiple computers. This enabled the gang to remotely transfer funds to other back accounts. | A KVM switch, which has a 3G router attached, allows a user to control multiple computers. This enabled the gang to remotely transfer funds to other back accounts. |
Barclays said it was able to recover a "significant amount" of the stolen money. | Barclays said it was able to recover a "significant amount" of the stolen money. |
One central London premises which has been searched was described by detectives as the "control" centre for the fraudsters. | One central London premises which has been searched was described by detectives as the "control" centre for the fraudsters. |
"Those responsible are significant players within a sophisticated and determined organised criminal network, who used considerable technical abilities and traditional criminal know-how to infiltrate and exploit secure banking systems," Det Insp Mark Raymond of the Met's Central e-Crime Unit said. | |
Alex Grant from Barclays said: "Barclays has no higher priority than the protection and security of our customers against the actions of would-be fraudsters. | Alex Grant from Barclays said: "Barclays has no higher priority than the protection and security of our customers against the actions of would-be fraudsters. |
"We identified the fraud and acted swiftly to recover funds on the same day. We can confirm that no customers suffered financial loss as a result of this action." | "We identified the fraud and acted swiftly to recover funds on the same day. We can confirm that no customers suffered financial loss as a result of this action." |