Independent Banker - July 2023 - 25

Next: Lessons for twentysomethings 
describes the rings as well-organized
and methodical. " They have a specific
method or target. They move from
one unit to another. They move
around until they're caught or the
weakness is fixed. "
As threats grow more organized,
banks must prioritize obtaining good
threat intelligence.
The Baton Rouge Area Bank
Security Association actively
facilitates information sharing and
education, as do many state and local
banking associations. " We invite law
enforcement officials to speak, and we
also bring in vendors to speak about
what they're doing and get the word
out, " says Yarbrough.
In addition, ATM manufacturers
and trade associations frequently
sponsor webinars, forums and briefings
on current threats. " Bankers should
be actively talking to each other
and meeting with law enforcement
organizations, " says Thompson.
" Take a look at what's going on in the
community and find out what police
are seeing. "
How to strengthen ATM security
Deterrence is the first line of ATM
defense. Barriers, bollards or other
obstacles restrict vehicle access to an
ATM and can help ward off attacks. They
also signal to would-be robbers that this
job may not be worth the risk. Similarly,
signage that announces the use of
alarms and video surveillance warns off
QUICK STATS
31
Number of ATM robberies in 2019
254
Number of ATM robberies in 2021
Source: FBI
and can deter perpetrators.
" ATM attacks are seldom random, "
Dunlap explains. " Anything banks
can do to make their solution known
discourages an attack. "
Detecting and hindering attacks is
the next stage and can decrease the
likelihood of an attack's success. Sensors
are available that monitor vibration
or motion and trigger an alarm. Video
surveillance, including smaller cameras
that fit inside the ATM, can also trigger
alarms or provide important evidence
for law enforcement.
Products such as " safe blocker kits "
or ATM cages make it more difficult to
access the ATM or make it harder to
pull the ATM off the ground.
If an ATM is seized, GPS packs in the
ATM itself and/or the cash cassettes
can allow law enforcement to track
and recover the cash and/or bring the
perpetrators to account. Alternatively,
various ink and dye technologies
will deface and/or degrade the cash,
rendering the crime less rewarding.
In the end, a strong security program
will take a layered approach, combining
barriers, surveillance, alarms, lighting
and other tools to create a secure
location. Selecting the best technologies
and tools should be guided by the most
likely threats for your bank. " Take a
threat intelligence-driven response, "
Burns advises. " Tailor and focus your
budget on those immediate threats to
get the most impact. "
Judith Sears is a writer in Colorado.
Factors that increase ATM vulnerabilities
Several vulnerabilities are commonly
spotted in the wake of a successful ATM
attack. These include:
 No alarms
 No GPS in the ATM cassettes
 No backup power to trigger alarms
 Inadequate video surveillance
 No seismic or sensor alarms
 ATMs aren't bolted to the ground
But perhaps a bank's greatest vulnerability is the belief that " it can't
happen here. " Barry Thompson, managing partner at Thompson
Consulting Group in Oswego, N.Y., believes many banks leave their
ATMs vulnerable because they view the cost of protection as high
and the likelihood of an attack as relatively low.
" The hardest thing for us to grapple with is the belief that it
can't happen here, " he says. " Smaller communities think it won't
hit them. But these types of criminals see urban area prevention
getting stronger and move off into the country. "
independentbanker.org // 25
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Independent Banker - July 2023

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