For the second time in four days, police are investigating a case involving vandalism and attempted robbery of an automatic teller machine (ATM) belonging to the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Ltd (BPWCCUL).
After Tuesday’s attack on an ATM in a building at Mile-anda- Quarter in St Peter, bandits tried to remove one from Jordan’s Supermarket, also in St Peter.
Smashed
At around 3:45 a.m. yesterday, three masked men smashed their way into the front entrance of the Speightstown supermarket. Armed with a sledgehammer and a length of heavy-duty chain, with a getaway car outside, the three attempted to remove the machine.
The supermarket’s security cameras captured images of their first move after one of them smashed one of the protective metallic mesh panels.
Step two of their plan was to secure the chain around the machine, which was fastened to the floor. The culprits were seen taking turns hammering away at the ATM with the sledgehammer, occasionally kicking it and attempting to open cash registers. All attempts were unsuccessful.
The chain was loosely secured around the machine and extended to the back of the getaway vehicle. They attempted to drive away with the metal box in tow but the ATM failed to budge. The episode
lasted less than five minutes.
In a statement, the BPWCCUL reassured its customers of the safety of all funds and personal information.
“This incident is currently under investigation by law enforcement authorities. We wish to reassure our valued members and the public that the individuals involved were unsuccessful in accessing any cash contained in the machine and there has been no compromise to member accounts or personal information. As the safety of our members remains a top priority, BPWCCUL is actively working with the Barbados Police Service to investigate the matter and is implementing increased security measures at all external ATM locations and across our branches.”
Suspicious activity
The credit union also advised customers to take greater care when accessing the machines.
“Please be aware of your surroundings, avoid using ATMs that appear to be tampered with or poorly lit, and immediately report any suspicious activity to the police or BPWCCUL’s contact centre team.” (SG)
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