A Country with 500 Bold Crimes of Blowing Up ATMs with Bombs and Stealing Cash

"More Dangerous as Explosive Use Increases"
ATM Bombing Suspects Likely Over 70% Foreigners

In Germany, where various incidents and accidents are increasing due to the massive influx of immigrants, ATM explosion thefts have recently become frequent.

At around 2:30 a.m. local time on the 30th of last month, a loud explosion was heard at a shopping mall in Reinickendorf, on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany. Three suspects, their faces covered with masks, exploded an ATM inside a bank branch in the shopping mall, grabbed the money, and fled by car. Euros and debris from the broken ATM machine that they failed to collect were left scattered on the floor.

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) reported that 496 such ATM explosion theft incidents occurred nationwide in 2022. This means that more than one ATM is exploded by thieves every night. A BKA spokesperson said, "As the use of explosives increases, the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous." In the past, gas was mainly injected into ATM machines, but in recent years, incidents involving the installation and detonation of explosives have increased. The local media Die Welt reported that explosives capable of blowing steel safe doors up to 30 meters away are being used more frequently.

ATM exploded at a bank branch in Germany.
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Investigators believe that more than 70% of suspects involved in ATM explosion thefts are foreigners. In particular, it has been identified that violent gangs based in the Netherlands are often responsible for these crimes. This is also why ATMs in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, which borders the Netherlands, are major targets. Mostly of Moroccan origin, these individuals drive Audi cars and cross the German-Dutch border to commit crimes, earning them the nickname "Audi Gang."

Some have pointed out the need to install protective devices on ATMs. For example, if an ATM receives an external impact, an ink cartridge could automatically burst, rendering the stolen banknotes unusable, thus providing a countermeasure against theft.

Previously, Deutsche Bahn (DB) equipped ticket machines with such "ink bombs" to prevent explosion thefts. The Netherlands also significantly reduced ATM explosion thefts by using ink bombs. Die Welt criticized, "Unlike other European countries, Germany has not legally mandated such protective measures," adding, "Germany remains a paradise for ATM bombers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.