Incidents related to dacoities, robberies and thefts of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across India registered a downward trend in 2019-20, according to the data of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Reason: The crackdown launched by the police on thieves involved in offences in ATMs coupled with round-the-clock patrolling at the cash vending kiosks.
According to the RBI data, there were only seven incidents that took place in 2019-20 up to September 30, 2019 as against 22 in 2018-19 and 14 in 2017-18. Out of 238 incidents reported in the country in 2019-20, there were only seven from Telangana.
Bank officials attributed the downward trend to intensified patrolling at the banks as well as ATM centres. In spite of doing away with deployment of private security guards and installing only surveillance cameras as part of cost cutting measures by the banks, the incidents registered a dip.
Secretary of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Bank Employees Federation M S Kumar said the stringent measures taken by the police resulted in reduction of offences at ATMs. Responsibility has been entrusted to the beat constables to continuously patrol the banks and ATMs in their respective areas. Even in case of any incident, the surveillance cameras installed inside the ATMs are enabling investigators to identify and nab those who committed thefts of cash vending machines.
A few days ago, the police arrested two people – Khalid Kamal Ahmed and Mohammed Riyaz – on charges of trying to commit theft at a canara bank ATM in Asifnagar on November 3. A housekeeper noticed the ATM machine in a damaged condition when she came to clean the premises and alerted the bank officials.
In 2018, the Cyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar conducted a coordination meeting with the bankers and asked them to take utmost care in ensuring proper security at the ATMs and clarified that the installation of CCTV cameras was a must for these centres.
