The pressure on banks is growing: increasing ATM explosions and other incidents are endangering customers and employees. New security personnel are supposed to defuse the situation.
Bremerhaven – "We are endangering human lives here," Chief Public Prosecutor Bernhard Südbeck told tagesschau.de. The accusation against banks: The too lax security measures make it too easy for perpetrators to blow up ATMs. The Weser-Elbe-Sparkasse (Wespa) also reports increasing attacks and destruction in recent months and is now responding with new security personnel.
Dirt, vending machine explosions and physical assaults: Security staff are supposed to protect customers and employees
Withdrawing money for a short time – for this reason, many people are regularly drawn to a bank branch. But if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, everyday walking can suddenly become a danger. Facades in danger of collapsing and glass splinters flying through the air: explosives are increasingly being used and making ATM explosions a major danger.
There are now bouncers in front of the Sparkasse in the regions of Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven. © Gottfried Czepluch/imago/Symbolbild
According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of explosions reached a record high in 2022: almost 500 machines flew into the air. In its own press release, Wespa announces: "Numerous safety precautions are intended to improve the protection of the vending machines." Since February, Wespa has taken the following measures, among others:
- Self-service foyers close between 23:00 p.m. and 05:00 a.m., because: According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), most crimes take place after midnight.
- Structural changes to the vending machines are intended to make gas attacks more difficult
- New warning functions and technical tools for tracking and identifying perpetrators
In an interview with nord24.de, Wespa CEO Peter Klett reveals an escalation of further incidents in addition to the vending machine explosions – including during the day. This includes harassment of customers and employees. In the future, security staff will stand in front of his branches. "We are very concerned that we have to take this measure, but we hope that it will bring about a quick improvement in the current situation," says Klett.
Federal Ministry of the Interior alarmed: Round table dedicated to ATM explosions
It is not only the Weser-Elbe region that is affected by vending machine explosions – it is a Germany-wide problem. Due to the proximity to highways and the remoteness of police stations, rural areas are particularly popular for perpetrators. The Sparkasse has reacted to a series of explosions in the Munich area by closing some branches and ATMs. This cannot be a permanent solution – politicians are also involved in the search for preventive measures.
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At the beginning of November, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) set up a first nationwide round table on the subject of "ATM explosions". Various measures were discussed, ranging from night-time branch closures to improved monitoring systems and sticking systems for cash in the event of an attack. Ministries of the Interior are now calling on banks to quickly implement and invest in the protection of ATMs – with its new security staff, Wespa Savings Bank is setting a good example.