ATM Safety & Security Tips
Criminals select their victims and targets, focusing on the unaware or unprepared. Criminals are also drawn to environmental conditions that enhance the opportunity to successfully complete their crime. The attitude and demeanor you convey can have a tremendous effect on potential assailants. There are a number of things you can do to increase your personal security and reduce your risk of becoming an ATM crime victim.
The following crime prevention tips can help make the use of ATM’s safer for everyone.
Walk purposefully with confidence. Give the appearance that you are totally aware of your surroundings.
Be aware of your total environment and what is going on around you. Criminals tend to avoid people who have this type of demeanor.
Perform mental exercises and think out what you would do in different crime or personal security situations.
Follow your instincts. If you feel you are in danger, respond immediately. Remember that your personal safety is the first priority.
Criminals select their victims and targets, focusing on the unaware or unprepared. Criminals are also drawn to environmental conditions that enhance the opportunity to successfully complete their crime. The attitude and demeanor you convey can have a tremendous effect on potential assailants. There are a number of things you can do to increase your personal security and reduce your risk of becoming an ATM crime victim.
The following crime prevention tips can help make the use of ATM’s safer for everyone.
Walk purposefully with confidence. Give the appearance that you are totally aware of your surroundings.
Be aware of your total environment and what is going on around you. Criminals tend to avoid people who have this type of demeanor.
Perform mental exercises and think out what you would do in different crime or personal security situations.
Follow your instincts. If you feel you are in danger, respond immediately. Remember that your personal safety is the first priority.
ATM Selection Considerations
Do not select an ATM at the corner of a building. Corners create a blind area in close proximity to the customer's transaction. Select an ATM located near the center of a building. An ATM further from the corner reduces the element of surprise by an assailant and increases effective reaction time by the user.
Identify an ATM with maximum natural surveillance and visibility from the surrounding area. This will create a perceived notion of detection by a criminal and increases the potential for witnesses.
Select an ATM at a location void of barriers blocking the line of sight of the ATM. This includes shrubbery, landscaping, signs, decorative partitions or dividers. Barriers provide hiding areas for would-be assailants.
Select an ATM that is in a well-lighted location.
Whenever possible, select an ATM that is monitored or patrolled by a security officer.
Select an ATM with a wide-angle transaction camera and/or a continuous transaction surveillance camera. Consult the bank or location management for this information.
Solicit prior criminal activity statistics from law enforcement for the ATM site and surrounding neighborhood.
Avoid ATM locations with large perimeter parking lots and numerous ingress and egress points.
Do not select an ATM at the corner of a building. Corners create a blind area in close proximity to the customer's transaction. Select an ATM located near the center of a building. An ATM further from the corner reduces the element of surprise by an assailant and increases effective reaction time by the user.
Identify an ATM with maximum natural surveillance and visibility from the surrounding area. This will create a perceived notion of detection by a criminal and increases the potential for witnesses.
Select an ATM at a location void of barriers blocking the line of sight of the ATM. This includes shrubbery, landscaping, signs, decorative partitions or dividers. Barriers provide hiding areas for would-be assailants.
Select an ATM that is in a well-lighted location.
Whenever possible, select an ATM that is monitored or patrolled by a security officer.
Select an ATM with a wide-angle transaction camera and/or a continuous transaction surveillance camera. Consult the bank or location management for this information.
Solicit prior criminal activity statistics from law enforcement for the ATM site and surrounding neighborhood.
Avoid ATM locations with large perimeter parking lots and numerous ingress and egress points.
Stay Smart and Safe
