Smash and Grab: Two ATMs Blown Up in Erlangen - Fewer Incidents Happening Nowadays
ATMs Exploded Twice, Decrease in Total Incident Count - Robberies involving explosives: Two automated teller machines destroyed, less occurrences noted overall.
Sneaky as a cat burglar, armed with explosives, a couple of ATMs fell victim to a daring nighttime heist in Erlangen. Similar incidents have been occurring in Bavaria this year and last. However, there's a slight drop in these kind of revenue-raiding attacks, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Bavarian State Criminal Office (LKA). But only one machine yielded stolen cash, with the crooks making a getaway in a shadowy vehicle towards the A3 highway.
The early morning explosion in Erlangen's Büchenbach district sent ripples through the district at around 3:00 AM. The LKA reported that one ATM was obliterated, leaving behind a severely damaged bank foyer. The suspects didn't have much luck at the next bank they targeted, as LKA expert bomb-defusers managed to save the day by disarming a half-detonated explosive device that had been planted on the second machine. The ATM remained unscathed, but the money it held was left untouched.
Can we sniff out the wrong'uns?
"Consider it a goldmine for our investigation," beamed the LKA spokesperson. The remaining explosives and any possible DNS traces left behind will hopefully lead them to the culprits. The LKA believes a gang of three to four individuals flew in from the Netherlands to pull this heist off. Police forces are on the hunt for the fledgling fugitives, using even air support.
The time gap between the two explosions wasn't immediately clear. It might have only been a few minutes, said the LKA spokesperson. Investigators will now be grilling witnesses and examining surveillance footage for clues. Crime scene investigators were poring over the scene in the morning for potential leads.
A double whammy like this in Erlangen is quite rare, according to the LKA spokesperson. Usually, the perpetrators only target one ATM at a time at night. However, a similar incident happened in Forchheim, Upper Franconia, back in February. Last year, the scofflaws went for two machines in one night in Elsendorf, Lower Bavaria.
Is more security money well spent?
Statistics provided by the LKA indicate that this year, there have been 10 and 11 ATM explosions in Bavaria so far, compared to 13 at the same point last year. In 2024, there were 22 incidents, which is similar to the 2023 tally of 21. In 2022, the LKA recorded 34 incidents. "It appears to be on the decline," said the LKA spokesperson.
This positive trend is also confirmed by the German Savings and Giro Association. They attribute the drop in incidents to recent investments by banks in ATM security measures. "The problem has shifted," explained the LKA spokesperson. While the number of ATM explosions has decreased in Germany, they have increased in Austria.
In light of the increases in ATM explosions in Austria, it might be prudent for local communities to review and possibly reinforce their security policies, particularly those related to vocational training for bomb-diffusing professionals. Meanwhile, the FBI's Crime and Safety Report suggests that understanding the roots of war-and-conflicts in the Netherlands, where the suspected ATM culprits are from, could offer insights into the motivations behind such crimes, potentially aiding in the prevention of future incidents. General news outlets and political commentators may find these aspects noteworthy for analysis and discussion.
