Coimbatore: ATMs have emerged soft targets for the burglars on a looting spree in the city, but banks are yet to wake up to the threats.
Stung by a series of ATM break-ins, police have jumped into action and taken stock of security measures in place at the ATMs in the city on Monday. At the end of the exercise, police found there were yawning gaps in the security apparatus of the ATMs.
Out of the 661 ATMs of private as well as nationalised banks, more than 60% of them didn't have security guards. Even those with security guards, had them only at night hours.
The number of ATMs with security alarms was even less. "Most ATMs do not have security alarms inspite of their usefulness in preventing thefts. There are 31 ATMs in Ramanathapuram police station limits, but only two had alarms,'' said a senior police officer. In some areas such as Saibaba Colony police limits relatively more ATMs had alarms, but the general practice appeared to ignore installation of alarms.
Even the mandatory CCTV cameras were not installed in several ATMs, exposing the chinks in the security measures. "Intriguingly, the CCTV cameras in some ATMs are switched off at night,'' the police officer said.
The banks, though admit the necessity for additional security to ATMs, cite financial constraints for not putting in place such measures.
"As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms, most banks have installed CCTV cameras in their respective ATM centres. There is no need to appoint security guards. The RBI has given the discretionary powers to bank managers to decide whether or not to deploy security guards," said A Kanagaraj, district lead bank manager.
The police had asked the lead bank manager to organise a meeting of top bank executives on December 15 where they will be briefed on the ATM safety measures to be adopted. Police said they would issue an advisory to all banks to install security alarms and CCTV cameras in all the ATMs.
"The city police have asked us to develop additional safety measures in ATMs," said an officer of Canara Bank.
Meanwhile, the police have deployed 400 additional police personnel for night patrolling in the city as instructed by the city police commissioner K Periaiah. One deputy commissioner, four assistant commissioners of police and seven inspectors of police are part of the team.
Stung by a series of ATM break-ins, police have jumped into action and taken stock of security measures in place at the ATMs in the city on Monday. At the end of the exercise, police found there were yawning gaps in the security apparatus of the ATMs.
Out of the 661 ATMs of private as well as nationalised banks, more than 60% of them didn't have security guards. Even those with security guards, had them only at night hours.
The number of ATMs with security alarms was even less. "Most ATMs do not have security alarms inspite of their usefulness in preventing thefts. There are 31 ATMs in Ramanathapuram police station limits, but only two had alarms,'' said a senior police officer. In some areas such as Saibaba Colony police limits relatively more ATMs had alarms, but the general practice appeared to ignore installation of alarms.
Even the mandatory CCTV cameras were not installed in several ATMs, exposing the chinks in the security measures. "Intriguingly, the CCTV cameras in some ATMs are switched off at night,'' the police officer said.
The banks, though admit the necessity for additional security to ATMs, cite financial constraints for not putting in place such measures.
"As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms, most banks have installed CCTV cameras in their respective ATM centres. There is no need to appoint security guards. The RBI has given the discretionary powers to bank managers to decide whether or not to deploy security guards," said A Kanagaraj, district lead bank manager.
The police had asked the lead bank manager to organise a meeting of top bank executives on December 15 where they will be briefed on the ATM safety measures to be adopted. Police said they would issue an advisory to all banks to install security alarms and CCTV cameras in all the ATMs.
"The city police have asked us to develop additional safety measures in ATMs," said an officer of Canara Bank.
Meanwhile, the police have deployed 400 additional police personnel for night patrolling in the city as instructed by the city police commissioner K Periaiah. One deputy commissioner, four assistant commissioners of police and seven inspectors of police are part of the team.
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