As Florida’s ATM bomber continues to evade police, many Independent ATM Deployers (IADs) are looking to better protect ATM terminals from physical break-ins.

With the growing threat of technological break-ins, electronic security has been a hot topic, but it is equally, if not more important to physically protect your assets as well.

Less desirable locations in high-crime areas are of course more susceptible to brute force entry, but the increased deployment of low-quality machines with sub-par construction has presented an ever-increasing number of targets for criminals, even in high-end, highly trafficked areas.

Insure Your ATM Terminals

The most sure-fire way to ensure your company survives any sort of ATM robbery is to insure your ATM(s).  There are many reputable companies that provide ATM insurance; it is always suggested to insure both the machine as well as the cash inside.

While insurance can help recoup losses, offense is often the best defense, and IADs should employ the best possible physical reinforcements to secure cash within their machine(s).  Oftentimes, when criminals attempt to gain entry into a strongly reinforced machine, the machine may be damaged, but the cash remains secure.

Create Barriers to Prevent Break-Ins

The goal of securing your ATM is to make it physically less attractive to a potential threat.  The more barriers are in place to prevent a robbery, the more obstacles a thief would need to overcome to gain access to the interior of the ATM, making it less attractive.  According to ATMIA, best practices for protecting your ATM include (1):

• Enhancing perimeter and building security

  • Strengthen building doors and locks

  • Install anti-ram raid bollards

  • Install and monitor alarms and CCTV

  • Consider the use of dense security fog

  • Post a notice at the site that enhanced security measures are in place

• Detecting attempts to insert explosives into customer’s side of ATM

  • Install alarm grids or other sensors to protect dispense shutter and surrounding area

  • Monitor for dispenser shutter being opened

  • Considering metal cages to inhibit removal of cash after an attempted explosion

  • Installing properly fitted steel plates over the cabling channels after cabling has occurred

  • Considering technologies that neutralize explosive gas

  • Managing cash balances in ATM to minimum required

While this is not fool-proof, these preventative measures may decrease the likelihood of an attack on your machine(s), no matter the physical location.

1. Source: ATMIA