ATMs Fitted with Pepper Spray - Finextra

Posted by John B. Frank Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Finextra is reporting that ATM's are being fitted with pepper spray, so do NOT check the ATM for skimming devices, or camera's...as it may mistake you for someone trying to install them.

For complete details on how to be peppered, er, prepared, you'll have to wait for my forthcoming book..."Be Prepared or be Peppered" due out in 2060.

SOUTH AFRICA'S ABSA FITS ATMS WITH PEPPER SPRAY

A plan by South African bank Absa to deter criminals from bombing its ATMs by fitting them with pepper spray backfired last week when a rogue machine attacked maintenance workers. (bet he wasn't peppered for that)

According to local news site Independent Online, the bank, inconjunction with police, has fitted 11 cash machines across the CapePeninsula with cameras and spray canisters.

When the cameras detect that someone is tampering with card slots -either to install a bomb or skimming machine - the pepper spray isejected, disorientating the culprit, giving police time to reach thesite.

However, last week a machine in Fish Hoek accidentally sprayed threepeople during a routine maintenance inspection, leaving them requiringtreatment from paramedics.

According to the Guardian, the number of cash machines blown up inSouth Africa has risen from 54 in 2006 to 387 in 2007 and nearly 500last year.

Source: http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=20271

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