Phuket ATM thieves get away with B1m

[webfact]

Phuket ATM thieves get away with B1m
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: -- About one million baht was stolen last night (November 6) by thieves who cut open an ATM at the Siam Commercial Bank branch in Boat Lagoon.

The theft was discovered at about 10:15 this morning when an employee of Bangkok Servex Co arrived to refill the machine.

The employee, who asked not to be named, told The Phuket News he found the padlock was missing from the door that gives access to the back of the two machines at the bank

“I opened the door, and found the back of one of the machines had be cut and burned. I immediately informed my company.” The other machine, he said, was untouched.

Phuket Town police were alerted within minutes of the discovery. Pol Capt Rachan Punwai, who went to the scene, said, “The machine was opened with a cutting torch. It had about B1 million in it at the time.”

The nearest CCTV camera is in the neighbouring PTT petrol station but there are trees in between, so no useful footage could be obtained from it.

Capt Rachan said, “We can’t see the thief or thieves on that camera, so now we are checking footage from other CCTVs installed along Thepkrassatree Rd.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-atm-thieves-get-away-with-b1m-42745.php


-- Phuket News 2013-11-07

[4evermaat]

This was done at an actual branch....hmmm. usually the standalone atms are the ones you worry about the most.

"Second best time to plant a tree is today" sent from note2 TV app

[Chao Lao Beach]

No CCTV in a bank ?

[orchidlady]

I thought all atms had security cameras.

[Tycoon]

I thought all atms had security cameras.

Yes, facing the front of the machine.

Capturing the users

Not behind it covering the mountings or footings of a building.

[Skint]

This story is almost unbelievable, why did they not wait til the machine was filled up?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Bucko]

This story is almost unbelievable, why did they not wait til the machine was filled up?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Most likely that they would have been seen or heard at 10.15 in the morning ----

I wonder tho'--was it just a 50/50 guess which one to cut open -- or just no time -- or gas- to do both ??

[Bucko]

I thought all atms had security cameras.

According to the Phuket News- the nearest CCTV camera is in a nearby petrol station--but that view is blocked by a line of trees

[Valentine]

No CCTV in a bank ?

If they are talking about CCTV from PTT then the ATM machine in question must be the one at the entrance to Boat Lagoon, not at the actual bank.

[JeffreyWitty]

I wonder if this was a successful trail run - and a rash of ATM thievery is about to kick off now?

If not by this "gang" then its a good thing the news explained how it was done so other could make attempts.

[stevenl]

I thought all atms had security cameras.

According to the Phuket News- the nearest CCTV camera is in a nearby petrol station--but that view is blocked by a line of trees

Yes, the purpose of that CCTV is to catch things happening at the petrol station, which is why it is where it is.

[PEP]

Usual way for "robbing" ATM in Australia WAS to fill the machine with Oxy/Acetelyne gas through the card slot thence from "around-the-corner" ignite the gas mixture with the lit gas torch. Partsof ATMS were often scattered 50metres away. I believe this method was discontinued after the ATM people strengthened the Cash Cassette and their Locks so no cash available only a very dangerous practice.

[IrishIvan]

Looks like the work of Farangs. Not many Thais are that good with flame cutters

[IrishIvan]

Usual way for "robbing" ATM in Australia WAS to fill the machine with Oxy/Acetelyne gas through the card slot thence from "around-the-corner" ignite the gas mixture with the lit gas torch. Partsof ATMS were often scattered 50metres away. I believe this method was discontinued after the ATM people strengthened the Cash Cassette and their Locks so no cash available only a very dangerous practice.

That style actually originated in Sweden I think you will find

[Blindside]

Usual way for "robbing" ATM in Australia WAS to fill the machine with Oxy/Acetelyne gas through the card slot thence from "around-the-corner" ignite the gas mixture with the lit gas torch. Partsof ATMS were often scattered 50metres away. I believe this method was discontinued after the ATM people strengthened the Cash Cassette and their Locks so no cash available only a very dangerous practice.

In my country they use explosives stolen from the mines and road works companies. Dangerous places indeed.

If I were the banks I would start looking at what best practice is from around the world and be prepared. Coming from a crime scourged country I can tell you it is still amateur hour around here. Both in terms of the thieves and the banks.

I try to avoid using ATM's at night back home.

Of course the upshot of all of this is that banks will pass on the cost (higher insurance premiums etc) to us in the form of transaction fees and higher cash-in-transit fees to businesses who will also pass it on to us.