Blog

Smash and grab: alive and well

July 19, 2013 by Mark Smith — VP of Financial Solutions, Kahuna ATM Solutions

Perhaps it's due to living close to a very large American city, but it seems to me that the news stories on ATM smash and grab are on the increase. These make for exciting news stories — especially if they have video footage of a vehicle smashing through the front of a building.

In virtually all cases reported, the crooks used a stolen vehicle and wore disguises. It didn't take too much time to remove the ATM with cash still loaded in the terminal. The thieves are seldom caught in the act and once they abandon the vehicle, there is very little hope of catching them.

Many security devices have been developed for ATMs and it still surprises me how much risk a retail establishment is willing to take to save a few bucks in hardware costs. As with many home burglaries, the victims don't take security seriously until they are affected by it.

They may already have an alarm system — that's deactivated 100 percent of the time. Once they are burglarized, they invest heavily in every type of security known to man. Their space has been violated and they're fighting mad about it. Had they had the foresight, they might have been far more diligent in securing their property before the crime happened in the first place.

At a minimum, an ATM location must consider the costs that a smash and grab entails. The vehicle has destroyed the entrance of the building. Getting the building put back together is expensive. And in some cases, the location is unable to serve customers until repairs are complete.

Additionally, the ATM has been stolen and most likely the terminal still has cash in it. The is an important part of the retail business and something they ultimately can't do without — it has to be replaced. The cash in the ATM may have been insured, maybe not. Regardless, it will take time to get a new ATM in place and generating revenue.

Additionally, at the time they have access to a location, crooks are likely taking anything of value that can be grabbed quickly. The losses continue to mount for the location owner.

And God forbid anyone was hurt or killed in the process of the smash and grab. If the location is not adequately insured, this could mean the end of their business due to overwhelming financial losses from lawsuits.

Yes, I know — most retailers will not spend a nickel to have a more secure ATM. Never have, never will. Correct?

I believe this is largely due to the high costs for technology. This has changed dramatically over the past couple of years and the options available today are more affordable. It's the old adage of paying a little more upfront to prevent greater financial losses from a smash and grab.

We all get the picture and we all need to be a proponent for what can be done about it. More importantly, we should impress upon our customers the importance of security for each location. It truly matters. Here are a few tried and true methods for consideration:

Bollards: These high-security posts create a physical deterrent to the location. They are meant to withstand great impact and they can prevent damage to a locations' front entrance. These have been used for years and they effectively deter criminals from attempting to smash a vehicle into an ATM location.

Alarm/Sirens: There are several inexpensive alarm systems that fire off when an ATM is rocked off its base, if sensors identify extreme heat from a metal-cutting torch or if a vault is opened without authorization. These can be tied in to existing alarm systems and can send alerts when a device is being compromised. Trust me…if these alarms are triggered, it will clear an area in seconds!

Bolt-down Security: Several types of inexpensive bolting devices for ATMs have been developed that prevent the ATM from being removed without authorization. These devices can be scaled to any size ATM, whether it is inside a location or placed on an ATM island. Most are made with vehicle impact in mind, and there are now product lines geared for indoor ATMs with a smaller footprint that offer the same protection. These range in design and price, yet they all create the same problem for the criminals. The time it takes to defeat these devices is too long.

Surveillance: The costs of digital cameras have come way down in recent years and it may now be more affordable for the retailer to add that security feature to the ATM configuration. Most ATM models now come with a camera window and some type of provisions for mounting a small camera to capture user events. The main benefit is that very clear pictures are taken and can now be provided as evidentiary materials to local authorities. The retail location may have cameras scanning the public, but these may not provide the close-up image that helps identify suspects.

Secure ATM Body Armor: Recently, new products have emerged that offer body armor for ATMs. The protective steel panels make the ATM as strong as a tank. These make the ATM bulkier, heavier and a lot harder to remove. The advantage of these is the visual realization it gives the thieves. It is quickly apparent that getting the cash out of an ATM secured with body armor will take considerable time. One look and the criminals will seek a more vulnerable target.

ATM Bolt Down: Of course, there's the tried and true method of bolting the ATM down to the floor. This is commonly done and has been very effective. The problem is…ATM cabinets may be able to withstand a human attempting to rock the unit off the security bolts but they can't all withstand the amount of energy a vehicle delivers on impact. In a smash and grab scenario, these would slow the criminals down enough to frustrate them but not defeat them. I'd advise having an additional method of alarming/securing the ATM to help assure criminal capture.

Empty ATM Daily: A common practice for retail stores is to clear their registers of any cash from the day's proceeds. This is a viable means to prevent theft if a break-in occurs when the location is closed. If the location has the authority to access the ATM vault, they may wish to pull the cash cassette and leave the ATM door partially open. One look and its obvious there is no cash in the unit. This isn't always ideal since not all locations have access to the ATM vault to perform this daily operation. However, this is an excellent option for store owners that load their own cash in the ATM.

Dogs: The #1 deterrent against criminals! It's true…the last place a criminal will break in to is one guarded by security dogs. They don't know what the dogs are capable of and everyone in their right mind fears a fierce protector! I add this in humor, but there is certainly validity in this method. But…it won't work in a 24-hour location. I recommend a dog bigger than a bread box.

One thing for certain is the criminal's will survey and case the location long before they hit it. They may use the ATM to get an idea of what security is already in place. Many are thwarted when they see stickers on the ATM stating it is secured by a particular method. The point of all this … crooks will take the path of least resistance. If an ATM is secured, they will seek out other ATM locations that lack security.

Unfortunately, those locations are easy to find.