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There have already been four hits on ATMs this week. Monday at Utzenstorf BE and Vicosoprano GR, Wednesday at Büren an der Aare BE and yesterday at Rothrist AG (reported BLICK). Terrifying: the perpetrators were always able to escape. And it is also not clear if it is a gang of serial bombers.
According to the Federal Police (Fedpol), this type of attack is increasing rapidly. In 2017 there were only two, in 2018 only four and in 2019 there were already 22. “It is a phenomenon at the European level,” he says in the VIEW request. And: “The perpetrators act in small groups.” Often these come from Eastern Europe and French countries. However: a series like this week is extraordinary.
Attacks happen at night
The Utzenstorf gangsters succeeded. The Raiffeisen ATM exploded at 3.25am on Monday. The perpetrators fled on a scooter. That same night at 2 am, a machine exploded in Vicosoprano. Property damage: several tens of thousands of francs. The attackers also used a scooter to escape in Büren an der Aare on Wednesday. Here, the UBS ATM exploded at 3:20 am, but was not robbed.
In the mere attempt without explosion, yesterday he stayed in Rothrist. The perpetrators fled at 3:30 am The Zurich Forensic Institute is investigating the bomb. According to the Aargau canton police, it is not yet known what explosives are involved. But there are several methods. Instructions can even be found on YouTube.
BBQ gas, plastic explosives, or brute force
Many perpetrators use normal grill gas, which they feed into the machine with plastic hoses and ignite it. Plastic explosives are also popular. Others tear the whole machine off the wall, with a rope that they tie to a vehicle.
Peter Villiger knows the phenomenon. He is CEO of Villiger Security Solutions AG at Sins AG. He and his team have been designing ATM security systems for 33 years. The Swiss company ships all over the world. Ink systems are a security solution Villiger swears by. These stain bills when you try to steal. “Criminals are deterred because the prey is useless.” Give an example: “In 2013, there were around 600 robberies at vending machines in Chile each year. After the ink systems were introduced, the number went to zero. “
“The image of the bank is also being damaged”
In Switzerland, many machines are only equipped with an alarm. For the security expert, there is a clear potential for improvement, because: “In the event of a robbery, the bank in question damages both the material and the image.” Banks have a duty to do something. Also so that Switzerland does not become a hotspot for criminals. According to Villiger, other countries in Europe are better equipped, which criminals, of course, would know. The security guard warns: “These attacks also carry risks for passersby.”
A gang of ATMs attacked seven times in just eleven months in Ticino. Explosives were also used on four occasions (Novaggio, Monteggio, Stabio and Comano). The series kicks off on November 23, 2018, with a big bang! The Raiffeisenbank ATM in Coldrerio is well packed. The robbers arrive in the stolen delivery van, blow up the ATM with force, and escape with 400,000 francs of loot. So far, the police have only joined one gang. Twice he had tried to empty an ATM at the Sant’Antonino shopping center. Myrtle Müller
