Put a Stop to Attacks on ATMs

The article ATM explosive attacks in Europe rise again on association-secure-transactions.eu stated,

“EAST has just published a European Payment Terminal Crime Report covering 2022 which highlights an increase in explosive attacks on European ATMs. ATM explosive attacks (including explosive gas and solid explosive attacks) were up 16% (from 629 to 727 incidents) and attacks due to ram raids and ATM burglary were up 8% (from 447 to 484 incidents).”

They also noted,

“EAST Executive Director Lachlan Gunn said, ‘This rise in ATM explosive attacks is of great concern to the industry, in particular solid explosive attacks that account for over 60% of the blasts. While extensive measures have already been taken to mitigate the risk of such attacks, each attack creates significant collateral damage to equipment and buildings and can pose a threat to life.’”

It's no secret that attacks on ATMs have always been a challenge for financial institutions, and these challenges seem to be rising.

There are a few ways that financial institutions can reduce the risk of attacks on their ATMs:

1. Install ATMs through a wall

Installing ATMs through a wall inside a fortified ATM lobby reduces the risk and mitigates attack repercussions.

2. Add strong camera surveillance using the Parabit Discreet Camera Enclosures

The article, How to Stop ATM attacks on atmmarketplace.com quotes Kristen Williams, assistant VP of administrative services, financial operations department for One Nevada Credit Union,

“’Aside from the extensive camera coverage and alarm systems with a duress code built into the alarm key pad, our servicing team is a third-party cash handler that is armed when at the machine for cash swaps and deposit pulls.’”

Let’s back up to where Kristen mentions extensive camera coverage. Does your financial institution have camera surveillance covered? If not, check out the Parabit Discreet Camera Enclosures here. Enclosures are available with different mounting options for maximum flexibility to support analytics, biometrics, access control, and more. Place cameras in ideal locations for best facial imaging such as door mullion, countertops, walls, frames, and bollards. Low profile and small format options give you discreet surveillance that can be placed at eye level. Discreet Camera Enclosures accommodate all miniature cameras from any manufacturer.View our

3. Install Parabit Access Control Hardware and Software

Using the Parabit Access Control hardware and software, NFC and magnetic stripe card holders identified as suspicious or considerable risk can be denied access or allowed access. Allowed access supports dispatching law enforcement to confront or arrest the suspicious person. View our Retail Customer Access Control solution here.

For more information or a quote please email sales@parabit.com or send us a message here.

How to Battle Unwanted Loitering and Vagrancy at ATMs

As noted in the article, Rags in front of riches from the Dailymail.co.uk,

“Scores of homeless people camped out and sheltering from the cold in ATM vestibules across New York City, as banks struggle to battle 'crime and vagrancy' that has run rampant at their branches.”

The DailyMail is not the only one reporting on the rampant challenges in New York City right now. Fox5ny.com noted in the article, NYC banks locking up ATM vestibules to keep out homeless,

“It is getting harder for some people to access ATMs at night in New York City because banks are reportedly locking up vestibules that house the cash machines due to problems with homeless people. From setting up makeshift shelters to using them to relieve themselves, ATM vestibules have become a nuisance problem at some Midtown Manhattan banks.”

But New York City is not alone in dealing with rising crime, homelessness, and encampments being made in ATM lobbies. Claire Meyer states, in the article Coping with Vagrancy in ATM Vestibules from asisonline.org,

“Richard Mercuri, CPP, corporate security director for a northeastern U.S. bank and a member of the ASIS Banking and Financial Services Community Steering Committee, tells Security Management that the number of homeless people who had to be removed from ATM vestibules in his organization’s network tripled over the past two years.”

Banks and financial institutions are turning to locking their doors early and limiting access to their banks. The article Banks in New York City to Shutter ATMs Overnight to Keep Out the Homeless by Kurt Stolz from frequentbusinesstraveler.com mentions that,

“A number of banks are quietly locking the doors to their ATM lobbies before midnight and reopening them in the early morning hours. The action is being taken as part of an effort to keep homeless people from encamping in the ATM lobbies, some using the lobby as a public toilet and as a place to take drugs, which is creating a safety hazard for both customers and bank employees.”

This solution affects customers' ability to deposit or withdraw on their own schedule. A person who works unusual hours and wants to deposit or withdraw in the middle of the night will now have a problem doing so, and people who work late and can’t get to the bank until it’s later at night just to find that it is closed causes a negative impact on the customer experience, as well cash flow.

Is there another solution? The answer: Parabit Access Control System.

Control who enters your facility and when. Delivering the infrastructure for security & compliance as well as innovative applications of Mobile & Bluetooth® Technology. From 24-hour managed access to complex initiatives, the ACS-1EUL provides critical components that enhance customer experience and improve business performance.

HARDWARE

The Parabit MMR (multi-media reader) and MMRC (multi-media reader contactless) are the class-leading, industry standards for ATM lobbies/vestibules, branches, and general retail businesses. With remote facility monitoring and management, physical overlay & RFID skimmer detection, remote loitering detection, single customer/group access loitering detection, the ability to block NFC cards, mobile wallet, and wearable tech credentials, and so much more, the Parabit ACS solution will provide you with the ability to keep your branches open and keep out vagrants and unwanted loitering.

View the Retail Customer Access Control Brochure here.

Facility sensors give you the information you need about your facility. Use these sensors to automate functions like lighting or lobby access, set customized alerts for events like loitering or door ajar, and control your lobby remotely with integrated shutdown support.

SINGLE CUSTOMER ACCESS

The high-definition Active Presence Detector is used to monitor and detect activity within an ATM Lobby. Use it in conjunction with an automatic door lock to limit the number of people allowed in the lobby at a time. Mounting the unit to the ceiling prevents blind spots, and the sensor width can be calibrated as to not be activated by activity outside the lobby.

LOITERING DETECTION

By combining the door sensor and active presence detector, you can detect individuals who may be overstaying their welcome. This can trigger a silent alert to security personnel to check on the area, offer a verbal warning if integrated with a speaker system, and more.

DOOR SUPERVISION & REMOTE LOCKDOWN

The door sensor is an integral part of a complete sensor security solution. It may seem simple, but it's the best way to ensure that the door is closed when it's supposed to be and is crucial to any automatic or remote lockdown routines. Past that, it alerts you if the door is ajar, which may mean it is being propped open or held open by a visitor. It can work in conjunction with Active Presence Detection to know if visitors are loitering and let you know how many visitors you have in a day and help limit the number of people in the lobby at any one time.

SOFTWARE:

ACS SOFTWARE SUITE ON PREM

ACS Enterprise® supports remote facilities monitoring and management for branches with ACS-1EUL installations. Remotely program and manage ATM lobbies and self-service banking terminals around the globe. Download brochure.

MMR® MOBILE APP SDK

Mobile devices – from smartphones to wearable tech such as smartwatches help simplify everyday tasks. When the Parabit Mobile App SDK is integrated with a financial institution’s mobile banking App, it allows customers to access a tellerless branch or an ATM lobby during branch after hours. Download brochure.

ACS SOFTWARE SUITE AS SaaS

SaaS ACS Software Suite is now provided as Software as a Service (SaaS). The SaaS solution provides rapid deployment of our supervised remote managed ACS-1EUL-MMR-BT Access Control solution.​ Download brochure.

For more information or a quote email sales@parabit.com or fill out our contact form here.