Hyderabad: Banks and ATMs located on the outskirts of the city continue to be soft targets for bank robbers. Despite repeated instructions to improve security measures, a majority of them have failed to comply.
Cops say that a few banks have installed CCTV cameras after repeated requests, but they are yet to employ armed guards. One such bank is the Shameerpet branch of the State Bank of India, which was broken into early this month. The bank installed CCTV cameras after a theft attempt in December 2015 but did not employ security guards.
About two years ago, the Cyberabad police called for a meeting with all the bankers operating in the city. At the meeting, cops gave clear instructions regarding the safety measures and security systems to be installed and implemented. While a few banks followed the instructions, a majority of them failed to do so.
Senior cops said that many banks were not very serious about the security of their branches and ATMs. “We have regularly been conducting meetings with the banks to discuss safety issues. We have been advising them about the necessary measures, but they have not been implemented, which is the main reason for the occurrence of such incidents,” said an official.
A senior official from Cyberabad said that with advanced technology becoming available, banks preferred to rely on tech-based systems rather than manpower for their security, which is why many of them did not employ security guards.
Speaking about the break-in at Shameerpet, he said, “After the last attempt, they installed CCTV cameras and an emergency alarm system connected to the police station, which helped avert the theft. The deploying of armed guards is a pending issue, and a matter of concern with respect to the safety of banks. Had there be an armed guard, the theft attempt would not have had taken place,” he said.
Many banks have withdrawn the services of security guards at ATMs and certain branches as a cost-cutting measure after demonetisation.
