Police suggest central security system to beat ATM thefts
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Police have suggested that banks in the country set up a central security control system to monitor every automated teller machine (ATM) nationwide in order to detect any undesirable activities including robbery attempts and theft of ATMs.
Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said this could function as a monitoring system so that any information, especially with regard to theft of ATMs, could be directly channelled to the police.
File photo of people withdrawing money from ATMs in California. — Reuters pic“I suggest that banks throughout the country establish such a system to ensure information on crime could be detected early and the information relayed fast to the police for prompt action,” he told Bernama today.
He said preliminary studies by police showed that it was easier for criminals to run away with ATMs installed in open areas without the banks or their security personnel aware of the incidents. They also put ATM users at risk.
“We know that ATMs are placed in open locations for the convenience of users but the security aspect must also be emphasised to prevent ATM thefts.
“Such incidents happen when there are too many ATMs located in open areas while security surveillance is lacking, thus providing opportunities for or encouraging criminals to rob the public who have made withdrawals from the ATMs or to run off with the machines,” he said.
Bakri said the security features of the ATMs also needed to be enhanced to prevent the recurrence of attempts to steal the machines.
“Perhaps there should be alarm bells installed or ensure that the CCTVs do function or security guards stationed at the ATMs to step up security.”
He said locations too played a role in preventing crime involving ATMs. Hence, more suitable and safer locations should be found with enhanced security measures for those ATMs in risky locations.
Bakri suggested a meeting between the police and bank management representatives to discuss security aspects and find solutions to the problems.
In the last three weeks, four incidents of ATM theft were reported in the Klang Valley.
Last Friday, robbers ran off with an ATM containing RM37,520 by using only a rope to remove the machine onto a vehicle in the 3.20am incident at a building in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang.
On May 25, an ATM with RM200,000 inside was stolen at a shopping complex in Balakong, near here.
The next day, robbers ran off with an ATM containing over RM61,000 at the University LRT station here.
On May 28, robbers tried to break an ATM at a supermarket in Pantai Dalam here, but their robbery attempt was foiled when the supermarket’s security alarm bell rang in the 11pm incident.
Checks by Bernama showed that various banks have ATM located in open areas such as office premises, supermarkets, shopping complexes, LRT stations, 24-hour convenience stores and shoplots. — Bernama
