Unmanned ATMs in Bengaluru raise security concerns

Bengaluru: While the Supreme Court has ruled that round-the-clock security guards are not required at ATMs, the Bengaluru city police disagree.

The recent CMS cash van heist has renewed concerns and prompted a fresh push for stronger security arrangements, particularly at kiosks in isolated stretches of the city where the risk of theft, vandalism or tampering remains significantly higher.

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said banks must adhere to security guidelines without exception and post guards at kiosks located in low-footfall and vulnerable areas.

"Police cannot keep watch on ATMs as patrolling teams cover multiple zones. There is no major threat as a centralised alarm system alerts bank officials,” he said.

Singh warned that banks would be “completely responsible if any untoward incident occurs” due to lapses in deployment. Rural ATM security is also a growing concern.

The ATM kiosk in Doddabele, Kengeri, looked more like a flimsy petty shop than a secure facility. DH PHOTO/Manjunath Shettar

CK Baba, Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural, said he has instructed patrolling teams in the outskirts to check kiosks regularly and ensure basic visibility around them.

Reality check

DH reporters visited about 30 ATMs across Kengeri, Malleswaram, RT Nagar, Vidyaranyapura, Indiranagar, MG Road, Mysuru Road, RR Nagar, Attiguppe and surrounding localities.

Standalone ATMs had no guards, while some kiosks attached to bank branches had security personnel. All had functioning security cameras; a few had emergency sirens, though several users were unsure about their condition.

A private bank ATM on KHB Colony Main Road was deserted; its door wide open for most of the day.

Naveen, a resident, said, “There has not been a security official here since the Covid lockdown. Beggars often wander near the ATM. I avoid it.”

Some 24/7 ATMs attached to large branches had security guards, but at most locations, guards were posted only during banking hours or till 10.30 pm.

An ATM kiosk in Doddabele, Kengeri, built with flimsy walls and a makeshift structure, had no siren and only one camera. Shopkeepers nearby said police patrolling was irregular, between 10 pm and 9 am.

With robberies rising in the locality, residents avoid the kiosk entirely. A week ago, Kengeri police arrested a gang of five persons involved in several crimes, reinforcing concerns about the neighbourhood’s vulnerability.

Not feasible to have constant guards: Banks

With UPI usage increasing sharply, ATM footfall has dropped, said Bhaskar Chakravarthy, Convenor, State Level Bankers Committee, Karnataka, and General Manager, Canara Bank.

“It is not feasible to have constant guards at ATMs. Each kiosk would need three guards for round-the-clock cover, and each guard is paid about Rs 18,000. We have cameras and branch managers visit every alternate day,” he said.

Indiranagar residents report that this ATM has gone months without a security guard.

Chakravarthy added that consistent police surveillance is crucial. “Patrolling will help. The RBI has strict guidelines for ATM safety, but if thefts occur, police surveillance is needed. They must take responsibility. We raise these issues in quarterly meetings,” he said.

Crime Trail

February 2025: Police cracked a two-year internal theft scheme and arrested six people, five of them staff of a cash management firm in Mahalakshmi Layout. Inspired by the film 'Lucky Baskhar', the cash officers and loaders used their access and ATM passwords to siphon off small amounts during maintenance visits. Police recovered Rs 43.76 lakh linked to the insider operation.

July 2024: On Sarjapur Main Road, a cross-border gang carried out a quick break-in at an ATM. In the early hours, the thieves pried open the rear panel of the ATM to reach the cash boxes directly. The operation took less than three minutes, with the gang escaping with Rs 16 lakh.

December 2023: A masked man attempted to steal money from an Axis Bank ATM on Munikrishnappa Road in Vidyaranyapura, Ramachandrapura. Wearing a helmet, he forced his way in and cut the power cable and CCTV wires. The siren sounded, and he abandoned the attempt.