It has become a full-blown arms race between banks and ATM bombers in recent years. Initially, perpetrators would inject gas mixtures into the machines, igniting them to access the cash cassettes. Banks responded with gas sensors and seals for the devices. The attackers then shifted to using solid explosives with greater power, which not only damages the branches but also puts nearby buildings and their occupants at increasing risk. In response, banks are installing more robust ATMs. Some are even embedding them in steel-reinforced concrete bunkers in parking lots and open spaces, weighing up to 30 tons.

No press conference or discussion with retail bankers passes without this issue being raised. The government has also taken notice of the problem. Just recently, the federal government announced plans for harsher penalties against ATM bombers. These are necessary, as the offenders act recklessly, endangering not only the lives of residents and security personnel at the branches, but also putting police officers and completely uninvolved road users at risk with their often reckless escape manoeuvres. In November, the first fatality was reported when a getaway vehicle collided with a van traveling in the opposite direction on the highway, resulting in the death of a passenger shortly thereafter.

A tougher approach is therefore essential, but is only one piece of the puzzle in this arms race, which also includes cash dyeing systems and fogging measures. Significant investments in protective systems and cooperation with law enforcement appear to be showing initial results, as statistics on completed and attempted bombings are trending downward. For instance, in North Rhine-Westphalia, such incidents occurred 18 times in the first half of the year, compared to 88 times in the same period the previous year. The best deterrent is when it simply becomes unprofitable for offenders to embark on robbery attempts.