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ATM Council warns members about bomb attacks on machines in Florida

The National ATM Council reports that state and federal authorities, including the FBI, are investigating a series of bomb attacks on automated teller machines in the Tampa, FL, area.

January 22, 2020

The National ATM Council reports that state and federal authorities, including the FBI, are investigating a series of bomb attacks on automated teller machines in the Tampa, FL, area.

"Thus far, the explosions have all involved on-premise bank ATMs ... and thankfully no retail ATMs have been hit as yet," the Council said.  The latest explosion, targeting a drive-up ATM at a Regions Bank in the Tampa suburb of Valrico, occurred overnight this past Sunday, according to a statement issued by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Chad Chronister told WFLA (NBC) that the explosion was caused by a "bomb-type device" that breached the machine's safe, giving the attacker access to the money.

According to the sheriff, the incident appeared to be connected to two recent ATM explosions in the area, one at a Pilot Bank in Tampa in December and another at a BB&T Bank in Oldsmar, a Tampa suburb, in November. In those attacks, the thief was unable to gain access to the machines' internal safes, and no money was taken.

"Now that he's finally accessed some cash, that's certainly what I'm afraid of," Sheriff Chronister told reporters, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "How experienced is this individual, and where does he go from here? We need to get this individual to make sure there's no more threat to public safety."

The Council observed that ATMs in Europe and elsewhere in the world have experienced serious problems with explosive attacks. The U.S. generally has been spared, although arrests were made this past May and November after ATM explosive attacks in Washington and Montana.

"If you own/operate ATMs in Central Florida, please be on high alert for the serial ATM bomber who still may be at large in the area," the Council urged its members. "You should also encourage store personnel to be on the lookout and report any suspicious activity."

The European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol (The Hague, Netherlands) and the European Crime Prevention Network (ECPN) have published a white paper on physical attacks on automated teller machines, attacks Click here to download it.

Members are encouraged to contact the Council directly with any relevant information or questions: The National ATM Council, Inc., 9802-12 Baymeadows Rd. #196, Jacksonville, FL 32256; tel. (904) 683-6533, fax (904) 425-6010. The Council is online at natmc.org, and can direct members to the appropriate law enforcement officials.