News

Citizens of Murupara hurting for cash after only ATM stolen

June 11, 2019

In the small town of Murupara, New Zealand, locals are out of cash now that the town's only ATM has been stolen, according to a report in Newshub. 

In the wee hours of June 3, it was ripped out with a stolen front-end loader and dumped 5 miles away in the Kaingaroa Forest unopened. The thieves did not profit, but the community now has no access to cash.  

"It brasses you off, especially for a little town like this," resident Pauline Teddy told Newshub.

The New Zealand Credit Union, which offers the only banking service in town, is reluctant to replace the ATM. This was the second attempt to steal the ATM. In a botched incident earlier this year, hoodlums attempted to slice open the cash machine with an angle grinder.

The credit union is the only banking service in town. Without cash, some locals are struggling, especially the elderly. The nearest bank is 38 miles away, and many in the town don't have cars. 

Community leaders and the credit union are in discussion to find a solution. The credit union wants to make sure the community is committed to reducing crime, before it commits to reinstalling the ATM.