ATM theft sounds like fun

WHAT??!? This article claims that a typical ATM may have up to $250,000 in it at any given time, and that's a lot of money. I have been reading about this spate of ATM thefts in Australia for a couple of weeks now, seems easy enough. Attach cable to back of truck, other end goes on ATM, and then just drive away. Seems pretty easy to the casual observer. I guess some surveillance wouldn't hurt either, to ensure that the ATM has been filled with cash recently. I doubt ATM company employees keep track of the serial numbers of each bill that goes into filling up the machine's hopper. You could use some type of industrial rivet gun to attach the cable to the machine quickly. And you would need to get a powerful truck capable of wrenching the ATM from off its mounts. Seems like the perfect crime.

Of course this could happen too... Bahahahahaha!!!1

The raid follows an incident where thieves tore an ATM from a wall but lost all the money when it caught alight after the machine overheated as it was dragged along the road.

"Hey Roscoe, you smell something funny?"
"I sure do boss, what is that?"
"That's our money burning you numbnuckle!"

Worker attacked in bungled ATM theft

August 26, 2005

A SERVICE station worker was thrown to the ground in a headlock and threatened in the latest attempted theft of an automatic teller machine yesterday.

The attack marks a dramatic switch in Sydney's string of ATM thefts, which now stands at 17. Until yesterday the thieves had targeted machines mounted in walls or at closed shopping centres and service stations. The young attendant was working alone at a Greenacre service station when he was threatened by two masked men about 3.10am. Police said one of the men held the employee to the ground, while a second attached a cable to the ATM and attempted to rip it from the wall.

The machine was torn from its mounting but the thieves were unable to remove the cash box and fled empty-handed. The attendant was unharmed. The raid comes as police investigate 17 ATM raids in Sydney in two months. Police believe at least five separate gangs are targeting ATMs, which contain up to $250,000.

Detectives from strike force Piccadilly, which is investigating the ATM raids, were looking at possible links between yesterday's attempt and the previous raids. A police spokesman said officers were concerned at the escalation in the violence, given that it was the first time someone had been threatened in one of the raids. Neither of the bandits were armed.

"It's a bit different from normal in that there was a consul operator on duty," he said. "They usually target ATMs in quiet areas where there is no one around. It's obviously an escalation." The bandits left a stolen Ford Econovan at the scene. It is believed the pair had a second get-away car.

Officers have asked for witnesses to come forward. The raid follows an incident where thieves tore an ATM from a wall but lost all the money when it caught alight after the machine overheated as it was dragged along the road.