Cops caution banks on ATM security

“We are insisting that banks should have a gu­ard at every ATM point for the safety of genuine cus­tomers and cash sto­red in the machine,” Che­n­nai city police commissioner S. George said wh­en this newspaper contacted him to elicit his views on the safety asp­ects of customers at ATM kiosks in the city. The po­l­ice patrol team in the ci­ty was told to make ro­u­n­ds around ATMs more fr­eq­­uently, a senior official added.

It may be noted that the poli­ce had been asking ba­n­ks in the city to dep­loy guards and surveilla­nce cameras near ATM ma­chines as the presence of watchmen and video ca­m­eras could act as a det­errent for criminals.

Though Chennai has not witnessed a crime si­m­ilar to the one in Ben­galuru, city ATMs had be­­en witnessing vandalism and robbery atte­mpts. A few years ago, thieves took away an ATM machine in Ayna­va­r­am. In another incident on OMR, in June 2010, a 19-year-old security gu­ard was killed by a gang when they tried to steal cash from the ATM machine in Padur.

In January this year, a masked man tried unsuccessfully to break open an ATM on Erukamcherry high road. In September this year, three drunken youths, who vandalised two ATMs in Triplicane, were arrested by the police based on video footage captured by the surveillance camera.requesting them to take appropriate action.

Set up the ATMs at properly illuminated places; maintain ATMs with enough lighting. Forty per cent of ATM crimes happen between 7pm and midnight.

Employ security personnel 24x7; ensure able-bodied men are on duty at nighttime.

ATM doors should open only by insertion of cards; many are now left wide open.

Banks should install cameras and alarm systems inside the ATMs.

Banks should instruct the security guards at ATMs not to permit people wearing masks and helmets to enter ATMs.

Look around before entering the ATM and if you see anyone suspicious, avoid going in.

Prefer the ATM on a main road, in a crowded area; not one in a bylane and secluded place.

Keep the ATM card ready in your hand instead of searching for it in the pocket/bag after entering the ATM.

Do not let anyone standing behind or close by to see you entering your PIN number.

Leave the ATM as soon as possible after completing the transaction and get to a secure place, such as inside your car or public area.

Do not count the cash inside the ATM, do it in a safer place.

If you find someone, especially a woman, a kid or an elder, in distress inside an ATM because of a stranger, raise alarm and get the attention of others.