Incidence of ATM Robberies Increases Demand for the Security Measures

“The number of ATM robbery and stolen payment card data cases has considerably increased since last year. It caused an increase in demand of 50% for various ATM security tools”, said the representatives of the company Penkių Kontinentų Bankinės Technologijos (BS/2).“According to the report of non-governmental organization EAST, the number of ATM robbery cases in Europe increased by 12% during the first half of this year. Such crimes become much more frequent in Lithuania as well. In response to these trends, banks now make significant investments in the different level ATM security measures”, says Mantas Baršys, Head of the Marketing Department of BS/2.

According to his words, financial institutions, in addition to the traditional video security systems, now much more often choose so-called ink security measures, damaging banknotes in the case if ATM “feels” unauthorized criminal activities. The ATM safes made from thicker steel are also chosen more frequently.

“During the economic hardship the banks pay more attention to the choice of security measures. Increased criminality forces them to review all their security systems. We have calculated that a modern, comprehensive protection of the most risky ATMs costs similarly to the loss resulted by one case of the ATM robbery”, said M. Barsys. He estimated that demand for the security measures in Lithuania this year increased by 50% compared to 2008.

Recently financial institutions have been offered so-called ink security measures, video surveillance systems, prevention measures, related to payment card data theft and software hacking, as well as the mounting equipment made from extremely durable steel and other protective measures.
6 197 cases of ATM  robbery and payment card data theft across Europe have been registered by the non-governmental organization EAST during the first six months of this year.