in the German city of Ratingen, explosion cash machines is a hot topic. Two were blown up up early on Same morning last month in branches of Santander and Deutsche Bank across street from each other near the suburb of Dusseldorf main Square.
a year before the population of The condos above Santander have been unsuccessfully sued to obtain machines removed because of Fears it could be raided – a gesture that might be the case in Looking into the past is prophetic in last countries.
but in Germany, thieves blow up ATMs up In the rate of more from one day.
attacks up over 40% since 2019, according to the Home Office, and investigators say two factors are driving the increase.
The largest in Europe economy It has 53,000 ATMs, a disproportionately high number that reflects Germans’ preference for cash instead of bank cards. Country also Extensive boasts network of highways or motorways, on a lot of That does not speed limit is imposed.
Ratingen lies just 70 kilometers (40 miles) from the Dutch border, investigators say the gangs from the Netherlands are prime perpetrators for Attacks that cause glass to fly building Facades are collapsing money Open the cartridges.
The raiders fled with nearly 20 million euros ($22.1 million) in In 2021 when 392 ATM explosions were recorded, the number increased to 496 in 2022. Police in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Ratingen is located and which bore the brunt of The attacks have recorded 47 incidents so far in 2023, up on last year’s rate.
Dutch raiders
Meanwhile, indecision of ATM attackers down in Holland, in part because of security measures like the glue that makes blocks of cash Dutch police say ATMs are unusable.
Very Dutch cash machine The raiders cross the border, and the German police estimate their transfer out between 70% to 80% of attacks in Germany since 2018.
Dutch police suspect about 500 people men We are responsiblea job in Ever-evolving groups such as new Recruits replace these who Busy. spp in Frankfurt this week charged six Dutch citizens with cause explosions, theft And property Damage.
Ratingen police are investigating A possible Dutch connection in last Raid the twin month also, after fixing a small vehicle which drove from the scene of the accident to a nearby highway.
On Thursday, nearly a month after the attacks, Santander’s front remained closed up. Deutsche Bank sign was still damaged, and sign Asks for Customers understood that there were ATMs out of request during repair.
In Germany, about 60% of Daily purchases are paid in cashAccording to a Bundesbank study, found Germans , on Average, quit over 6,600 euros per year mainly from cash machines.
Germany also a job with Officials in Belgium and France and in Europol to combat the cash machine crime Wave. The partner authorities did not respond to the requests for comment.
German Interior Minister Nancy Weser noted this week that ATM raids threaten lives, and urged banks to step up safety Sizes for ATM machines.
Both Santander and Deutsche said they were prioritizing safety It is constantly improving ATM security, but banks within Germany are reluctant to take comprehensive measures. instead Advocate for a case-by-case approach on individual security risks.
speaking for Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft, umbrella foyer group for Countries financial Institutions, he said, are different locations Come with different risks. there currently no one- One size fits all. “
