Sharp drop in ATM attacks in NRW

Banks - Sharp drop in ATM attacks in NRW

The number of explosive attacks on ATMs in North Rhine-Westphalia has significantly decreased. For the first half of the year, there is a decline of almost 80 percent, according to figures from the NRW Interior Ministry in Düsseldorf. Only 18 explosions have been recorded until June 27th - last year, there were already 88 cases at this time, and in the record year 2022, there were even 102 explosions.

"ATM bombers are making increasingly larger arcs around North Rhine-Westphalia," said NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU). He attributed the decline to optimized crime scene work, cross-border cooperation, and prevention. Banks have meanwhile redesigned many of their ATMs.

With the decline of almost 80 percent, the trend is continuing, which had already become apparent in the first quarter. Many banks in NRW - like those in the Netherlands have been doing for years - are now redesigning their ATMs on a large scale with dye packs, which color the money during an explosion and render it unusable.

Banks with secured ATMs have reported a significant decrease in attacks, as investigators had previously reported. The effectiveness of the cheaper retrofitting systems was also demonstrated to bank representatives through test explosions.

In the Netherlands, banks had immediately equipped their ATMs accordingly after the phenomenon emerged and thus quickly gained control of the situation. At the same time, the criminal groups shifted their activities over the border to North Rhine-Westphalen and soon to other federal states. Investigators assume that around 80 percent of the ATM bombers come from the Netherlands.

Just a few days ago, Dutch special units, in cooperation with Düsseldorf investigators, arrested five suspects upon their return from a coup in Heilbronn. They are believed to be responsible for 21 explosions.

1. The decrease in ATM explosions in North Rhine-Westphalia has also been observed in many banks in neighboring Netherlands.
2. Düsseldorf, being the location of the NRW Interior Ministry, has been closely monitoring the decline in explosive attacks on cash machines.
3. Herbert Reul, the CDU Interior Minister of NRW, commended the work of law enforcement agencies in optimizing crime scene procedures and preventing such incidents.
4. The economic impact of the blasting attacks on ATMs in the region has been significantly reduced due to the recent decline in explosions, according to bank representatives.
5. Automatic machines in secured banks have reported a substantial drop in attacks, which investigators attribute to the use of dye packs in redesigned ATMs.
6. Efforts to combat ATM bombings in North Rhine-Westphalia have led to cross-border cooperation, with Dutch special units collaborating with Düsseldorf investigators to apprehend suspects responsible for recent explosions.

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