Channel Register

Dutch blaggers explode ATMs

You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off

By John Leyden • Get more from this author

Posted in Software & Security, 14th March 2006 16:17 GMT

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Banks in the Netherlands have begun fitting air vents to ATMs after local blaggers took to blowing up tills using explosive gas. According to local reports, enterprising local crims have taken to drilling holes in conventional ATMs and filling them full of flammable gas and igniting it from a safe distance, a technique called plofkraak. Surprisingly this doesn't incinerate the contents of cash dispensing machines.

While losses from more conventional fraud (such as skimming) has dropped over the last two years attacks using gas or explosives are increasing in a number of countries across Europe. Of 17 physical attacks against ATM in the Netherlands last year, 10 involved heavy vehicles crashing into machines, five featured gaseous explosives and two featured other types of explosive. Robbers have also used the gaseous explosive technique against ATMs in France and Germany. ®

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