Criminals Loot Millions from ATMs: Germany’s Cash Culture at Risk

Recently reported by CNN: In the early hours of March 23, 2023, residents of Kronberg, Germany, were startled awake by loud explosions as criminals blew up an ATM located beneath an apartment building. The blast caused severe damage and forced residents to evacuate.

Witnesses reported seeing people in dark clothing fleeing the scene in a black car. The thieves stole 130,000 euros in cash and caused around half a million euros in damage, according to Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).

Instead of traditional bank robberies, criminal groups in Europe are increasingly targeting ATMs, finding them easier and less risky. In Germany, where cash is still widely used, ATM thefts have surged to more than one per day, allowing criminals to make off with hundreds of thousands of euros in a single hit.

Europol has intensified its efforts to combat ATM robberies, conducting large cross-border operations targeting highly organized criminal gangs. Earlier this month, authorities from Germany, France, and the Netherlands arrested three members of a criminal network responsible for using explosives in their attacks on cash machines, according to a statement from Europol.

These coordinated operations are part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal organizations involved in ATM thefts, which have been on the rise across Europe. Europol’s actions aim to enhance safety and reduce the financial impact of these crimes on communities.