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23

Designing Safe ATMs*

Michael S. Scott and Randall I. Atlas

There is a scene in the movie LA Story with Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker that shows them

going to an ATM on the outside of a bank in Los Angeles late one night. A line of yuppies is with-

drawing cash for late-night dining and clubbing, and adjacent to them, a line of robbers in typical

robber garb … masks, shotguns, knives, handgun, and so on. A robber waits for Steve Martin to

make his withdrawal and then introduces himself: “Hi, I’m Bob. I’ll be your robber tonight!” The

robber takes the money and walks away (see Figure 23.1). A very funny scene, but in real life people

get hurt and killed. Both Atlas and Scott have been hired as a premises security negligence expert

on a dozen cases involving robbery and assault at ATMs or drive-through deposits.

*

Portions of the text in this chapter consist of content found in the following publication: Robbery at Automated Teller

Machines, Guide No. 8, Michael S. Scott, Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, ISBN: 0471475815, 2001 (www.

popcenter.org). We offer special thanks to the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, Inc., and the U.S. Department of

Justice, Ofce of Community Oriented Policing Services for permission to reproduce common content in this work.

CONTENTS

Imposing Mandatory Minimum-Security Standards .....................................................................562

Using Civil Liability ......................................................................................................................563

Specic Responses to Reduce ATM Robbery ................................................................................565

Altering Lighting, Landscaping, and Location .............................................................................. 566

Ensuring Adequate Lighting at and around ATMs .................................................................... 566

Ensuring That the Landscaping around ATMs Allows for Good Visibility ..............................568

Installing Mirrors on ATMs .......................................................................................................569

Installing ATMs Where There Is a Lot of Natural Surveillance and Potential

forVisibilityby Others..............................................................................................................569

Installing ATMs in Police Stations ............................................................................................569

Relocating, Closing, or Limiting the Hours of Operation of ATMs at High-Risk Sites ...........569

Implementing Public Awareness and Education Initiatives ........................................................... 571

Providing ATM Users with Safety Tips .................................................................................... 571

Using Surveillance ......................................................................................................................... 572

Installing and Monitoring Surveillance Cameras at and around ATMs .................................... 572

Installing Devices to Allow Victims to Summon Police during a Robbery .............................. 574

Deploying Private Security Guards at ATMs ............................................................................ 574

Targeting Offenders ....................................................................................................................... 575

Controlling Street Drug Markets to Reduce the Need for Robbery .......................................... 575

Targeting Repeat Offenders ....................................................................................................... 575

Prohibiting Loitering and Panhandling Near ATMs .................................................................. 575

Hardening Targets and Denying Benets....................................................................................... 576

Requiring That ATMs Be Located in Enclosed Vestibules with Doors That Lock ................... 576

Setting Daily Cash Withdrawal Limits ...................................................................................... 576

Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 576

References ...................................................................................................................................... 577