NCJ Number
121477
Journal
Security Management Volume: 33 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1989) Pages: 148-160
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article reviews current data on ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) service team attacks and offers prevention recommendations.
Abstract
In 1987 the Bank Administration Institute (BAI) released the results of its national survey of ATM-related crimes of violence. This survey included information from 177 of America's largest financial institution ATM operators. Based on these data, the BAI estimates that by the year 2000, approximately 20 employees per year will be killed or injured in criminal attacks on ATM service teams. The data presented from this survey cover time of month, ATM service team activity, location, type of attack, perpetrators, level of threat, loot taken, size and composition of team, use and characteristics of guards, injuries, team vehicle, crime site characteristics, security devices and practices, and alarms. Prevention recommendations pertain to the visibility of the ATM to the surrounding area, ATM lighting, the use of wide-angle transaction cameras, 24-hour use of two-person teams, and written policies taught to all teams. Other recommendations address team preservice and inservice training on ATM security issues and practices and the sharing of ATM-service-team attack information between financial branches in the same city or region.