ATM Protection

With the recent attack on a female customer of a bank, lot of noise is being made about lack of security at the ATM's. No amount of security can actually prevent these attacks with each mode having it's own lacunae.

While it might be impossible to bring in a total fool proof system for protecting the customers using the ATM, i have few thoughts which might help deter the potential attackers.

Shutter Lock system: A simple method is to create a mechanism to lock the shutter when it is open so that it cannot be pulled down the way it was done by the attacker in the recent incident at Bangalore. A slightly advanced method could be as follows.

Each shutter would be fixed with anti pull down mechanism either on one side or on both sides of the shutter. These would be something like number locks, which will lock or unlock only with authorised persons pressing the required combination to either lock or unlock. Authorised person are Bank Employee, Cash handling company or security company supervisor. Only these people will be given the password either to lock or unlock. A internal system of changing the combination periodically once in 15/30 days can be devised.

This devise is fitted in such a way that a retractable obstacle would open once the device is locked and this device would be placed at a height where the shutter could comfortably be stopped without creating obstacle for movement of people to-fro to the ATM. Either one or two units on either side of the shutter can be positioned. This locking device could have a inbuilt Alarm mechanism. In the event any forceful attempts are being made (more than 3 times) this device will trigger a Siren which can start belching and further additions can be considered like sending an alert to the nearest Police station with a GSM chip inserted in it.

This is being suggested with an assumption that no bank would like to pull down its ATM shutters and would like to function 24/7. In the event they need to fill cash carryout maintenance etc then the authorised person have the password to use the same to pull the shutter half drawn.

Panic Button: One could consider placing a panic button at a height of about 5 feet (to prevent children from fooling around) somewhere in the ATM room or to the machine itself. In case of an attack the person under attack can press the button which will set out a 'Siren' and or a alert to the nearest Police station. Location of the Panic button can be highlighted with a board clearly mentioning the purpose.

Location of the ATM: It is important that all ATM's should be in such places where there is proper lighting, crowd movement. They should not be permitted to be opened in bi lanes just to ensure visibility and access. Any higher rent paid by the bank for locating the ATM on a main road can be recovered in terms of advertisement mileage they get with their bill board.

Either the locking system or the Panic button may not cost more than one month wages of a security person.

Lets hope something in these lines will be done. If there are better methods, then they should be initiated and implemented.