New Delhi: A study of over 5,000 ATMs across Delhi this year has exposed glaring security lapses, with many kiosks lacking security guards, protective shutters and adequate CCTV coverage.The Delhi Police survey found 2,514 ATMs operating without shutter locks and 2,044 lacking security guards. Further, 767 kiosks did not have CCTV cameras outside their premises, 15 had no cameras inside, and 119 were functioning without shutters altogether, police sources said.“The absence of security guards may be a cost-cutting measure adopted by banks, but it has significantly increased the risk of thefts,” a senior cop said.These shortcomings have been reflected in a series of ATM-related crimes reported across the city — from thieves breaking open a cash point in Ashok Vihar to a gang uprooting another one in Govindpuri.Investigators said such thefts are rarely opportunistic and are instead carried out by well-organised gangs that follow a meticulously planned modus operandi. The criminals first scout for ATMs located in isolated areas or those operating without security guards, making them easy targets.They conduct detailed reconnaissance over several days, studying police patrol schedules, pedestrian movement and possible escape routes before striking, usually during the early hours of the morning when the surroundings are deserted.To avoid identification, the criminals usually enter an ATM kiosk with their faces covered and disable surveillance by spraying paint on CCTV cameras, rendering the footage unusable.They then use gas cutters or other specialised equipment to cut open the ATM safe and steal the cash. If breaching the machine on the spot proves difficult, gangs uproot the entire ATM, load it onto a vehicle and transport it to a secluded location where it is dismantled.While a few members remain inside the kiosk to execute the crime, others keep watch outside to alert their accomplices about approaching pedestrians or police patrols.Investigators said the criminals frequently use vehicles fitted with forged or cloned registration plates to evade detection. In a case in Dabri, police found out that the registration number on the suspects’ vehicle was fake.Following a spate of such incidents this year, Delhi Police has held several meetings with bank officials and ATM service providers, directing them to strengthen security arrangements. They have been asked to deploy security guards at vulnerable locations, improve CCTV coverage and install tamper-detection systems capable of raising an alarm the moment a person attempts to damage or tamper with an ATM.Banks are equipped with electronic surveillance systems that generate real-time alerts whenever an ATM is tampered with. These alerts are immediately relayed to the bank’s monitoring team, which informs police, enabling a swift response to attempted thefts.
