Offbeat

Rant

ATM Machines and Safe Guards for the Public

Posted 15 months ago|2 comments|3,491 views
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I was reading about a recent robbery at an ATM machine in a neighboring town. A woman was robbed at an ATM machine and the robber took her purse too. Her cell phone was in her purse, so there was no way for her to call 911. I was just thinking that it would be nice if ATM machines also had buttons on them to dispatch 911 when these robberies take place.

There are many ATMs just equipped with surveillance cameras, but no emergency button for help. The cameras certainly can't help if you are in trouble. They are great for ID purposes, but that is it. Many could blame the victim for going out to an ATM at night, but if money is being dispensed out in public, then the safe guards should be there too.

Since many people are going to ATMs during off hours, why not safeguard the machines with emergency 911 buttons. In fact, I think it should be a requirement for all banks and businesses that have ATMs on there premises.
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justlogic
justlogic
15 months ago: A local D.P.D officer was shot and robbed at a drive-up A.T.M, guess where it was, directly across the street from and in full view of, his precinct.
Drive up A.T.Ms leave you in a highly vulnerable position, don't use them.

Stores, office buildings, etc like to put A.T.Ms near the entrance, criminals love this for a variety of reasons. One reason is, criminals can monitor the A.T.M, watch you go from your car, get your cash and come back out. They then know where to meet you and take your cash, your car.

Walk-up street A.T.Ms are another bad choice, people should rarely use any A.T.Ms and when selecting one, leave the lonely A.T.M alone. Select an A.T.M that is in a well lighted, high traffic, secure indoor area out of street view.

Call buttons along with taking some careful steps give criminals reduced opportunity's.
15 months ago: Even the drive up ATMs are not safe. We had another incident over the summer were a person was getting money out of the machine and the robber had a weapon.

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