Sparkasse Vorpommern closes branches at night: protection against machine blasts!

Sparkasse Vorpommern closes branches at night: protection against machine blasts!

Next night, Sparkasse Vorpommern will take a remarkable step: from July 23, 2025, several branches of the institute will close their doors from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. This measure is a response to the increasing threat of ATM explosions, which have also caused concern in the region in the past. The branches in Greifswald Eldena, Karlshagen, Grimmen, Stralsund, Sellin and Putbus are particularly affected Ostsee-Zeitung reports.

The statistics are alarming: In Germany, cases of ATM explosions have risen continuously in recent years. Perpetrators often use technical devices and explosive substances to carry out their criminal activities, which not only poses a material danger, but also a massive danger to local residents. According to that Federal Criminal Police Office The attacks are a challenge for the authorities, especially during quiet nights. The crime rate has tended to increase over the last five years, especially in northern Germany.

Preventive measures and new safety standards

In order to effectively counteract these developments, Sparkasse Vorpommern has carried out extensive security analyzes at its 75 locations. Not only the branches themselves, but also the ATMs were checked for security. The result is a tailor-made “security package” in collaboration with the police and security service providers. Marco Thürck, security manager at Sparkasse, emphasizes that protecting lives, assets and cash supplies has the highest priority.

The measures implemented include, among other things, the use of modern technologies, such as passive currency cancellation systems, which immediately discolor the banknotes in the event of an attack, as well as obfuscation technology, which makes it more difficult for attackers to carry out their plans successfully. These investments in security run into the millions, and the new machines are also barrier-free accessible, as Bosch Building Solutions presents.

A look at the development of crimes

The situation is not only tense at Sparkasse Vorpommern. Compared to neighboring countries such as the Netherlands and France, the Federal Republic of Germany does not have uniform security standards for ATMs. This means that perpetrators from neighboring countries are increasingly relocating their activities to Germany, as the reporting makes clear. The Federal Ministry of the Interior's “round table” in autumn 2022 would have produced recommendations to improve security, but implementation is stagnant.

It is important to take a holistic approach to combating ATM explosions. Simple individual measures are not enough. The dramatic figures in recent years also show this: from 414 explosions in 2020, the number fell to 392 in 2021, but the current status remains alarmingly high.

At a time when banks are increasingly challenged due to the evolving threat situation, Sparkasse Vorpommern's new measures show that protecting customers and their values ​​is the top priority. With this in mind, all those affected should remain vigilant and closely monitor the progress of security measures.