Following a few attempts by burglars to steal money by breaking into ATMs, the city police have issued stringent guidelines for banks, which include installing burglar alarms at ATMs as well as night vision CCTV cameras.
In a meeting presided over by additional commissioners P. Thamaraikannan and Rajesh Das and joint commissioner R. Thirugnanam on Tuesday afternoon with representatives of 25 banks in the city, issues related to security at ATM kiosks and bank branches were discussed.
The officers urged banks to immediately install high resolution CCTV cameras, preferably with night vision, at ATM| kiosks. Cameras should be placed in tamper-proof cases, they said. A security guard must be present outside the kiosk at all times, and should check all customers entering, especially people attempting to use the ATM while wearing helmets.
Burglar alarms fitted with sensors must also be installed at ATMs so that an alarm is triggered immediately if someone tries to tamper with the machine in an attempt to reach to the safe containing the cash.
Officers also stressed on the need for CCTV coverage at bank branches. Cameras should be installed at entry and exits points and also at important locations inside the bank. Apart from an armed guard outside the bank, adequate security arrangements should be in place during large money transfers from the branch, the officers told the bank representatives.
