Top banks, including Axis, Standard Chartered, Citibank, and ICICI, have installed active deterrence systems to protect ATMs in view of rising thefts and other crime inside ATM kiosks.
These new ATMs have an integrated surveillance system of CCTV, specialised sensor chips and two-way audio communication system. In Mumbai, more than 400 ATMs already have this system installed.
If someone tampers with a machine, tries to introduce skimming devices, or is seen to be suspicious, the control room in Navi Mumbai can see all this. It will warn the person or even sound an alarm in the particular kiosk. The control room can monitor any ATM machine in the country and communicate through that machine using radio frequency technology.
The process can also help those who cannot handle the machine. Or in cases like what happened recently — a man collapsed from a heart attack. The control room also keeps a tab on amorous couples who use kiosks for private purposes after bribing guards.
Various banks across the country lost Rs52.67 crore in ATM and internet-related crimes. In 2012, at least 8,322 cases were registered, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports.
Banking experts caution that the situation could worsen as the number of ATMs is set to go up to 2.5 lakh from the present 1.6 lakh. In 2010, there were around 60,000 ATMs in the country.
Sunil R Udupa, the MD of Securens Systems Pvt Ltd, who runs the control centre in Navi Mumbai, said his company has been monitoring over 2,000 ATMs across the country, including more than 200 in Mumbai and extended suburbs. "Banks are now realising the importance of technological surveillance after an increase in ATM-related crimes."
Udupa claims his 15-member team prevents seven to eight ATM burglary attempts daily. "Whenever any person behaves suspiciously by trying to break anything inside the kiosks or enters wearing a mask or spends too long a time inside kiosks or assaults anyone, our team will immediately warn the offender through the two-way audio communication system. Also, we inform the police," Udupa said.
Shailendra Pratap Singh, a senior executive of Goregaon-based Modern Infomatics, another firm that has security systems installed in about 1,000 kiosks, said: "Retired policemen and ex-servicemen train our team members to speak in an authoritarian tone to scare offenders away.
HDFC bank officials in Mumbai told dna that the bank was in the process of installing these systems in its ATMs.
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