ATM robbery - Central London users beware!!!

I got robbed. That's the short of it.



I went to the NatWest ATM down the road from where I work in High Holborn, WC1V last night around 5.45pm. The man in front of me was talking on a mobile and taking a very long time with his transaction so the couple in front of me moved to the other ATM when that became free. In retrospect it appears I had been picked out as a target. After a long day I was tired and not too aware of my surroundings. I assumed it was safe as this was a busy street in rush hour, with a large number of professionals walking past.

I put my card into the machine, entered my PIN (covered by my purse) and then was ambushed by three people – one ‘blonde’ girl of medium build and around 5’3 or 5’4 to my left, and two other men who came from my right (although I only glimpsed the one – short black hair, around 5’7 wearing a black bomber jacket). The girl covered the ATM screen from view with a newspaper as she approached and all begged for money (they sounded Romanian or of other similar eastern European origin, and didn’t speak fluent English). I pushed my arms back to move them away telling them to leave me alone but they stayed and carried on harassing me for money – at this point I was distracted, confused and thought I’d cancelled the transaction (cash with receipt).

After a couple of seconds, all the equally shocked people queuing behind me and at the next ATM kicked up a fuss and told them to get lost. Eventually a few men in suits came up and chased them away. By this point the newspaper had disappeared from in front of the screen and they carried on acting distressed for a while begging for cash (when it appears now they already had it within a few seconds of approaching me). A receipt came out of the machine after they’d left and I assumed I’d cancelled the cash so didn’t analyse it straight away whilst the helpful men who had chased them away could have probably given chase had they still been there. After putting my card back in the machine to draw out the £30 I needed I looked back at both receipts and realised £200 had been withdrawn whilst I was surrounded – I didn’t glimpse this cash at all.

I’ve seen the emails about people copying cards and taking PIN numbers by loitering and other methods but this appears to be a new technique which is being used. I had my purse in hand and bag on the other arm so they could have easily grabbed these and run off, which was what made me assume they were just poor street beggars.

This £200 which I never set eyes on, represents nearly a week’s wages for me on a temp salary. The problem now is that Barclays, although they are sending me a dispute form, say this will most likely constitute a ‘robbery’ rather than ‘fraud’ as I had inserted my card into the machine and typed in my PIN number (covered but which I cancelled along with my card as a precaution). Therefore likely no reimbursement. Having walked into the NatWest brand earlier today whose ATM machines they were, I was told that they are not allowed to put CCTV cameras on the machines themselves due to people’s PIN numbers therefore their hands are tied as it is the police and local authorities’ job to ensure there are street cameras in these locations. I was appalled at being told this as I am sure CCTV cameras can be installed around these ATMs from an angle without being able to record PIN information. If these three people were indeed illegal immigrants as I suspect they are then I don’t hold out much hope of them being caught although there is always hope.

The police are currently investigating and I have been informed that they are aware of this problem in the area that has been occurring for some weeks now. Apparently 10 minutes after I made my call, they received another call reporting the same occurrence at an ATM around the corner.

Some advice I think would be very valid for everyone who uses ATMs:

1. This may sound so obvious, but if you must use a street ATM look around first to see if there are people watching you. Take note of faces. I admit to walking around in a bubble at times in London. I was much more careful and took greater precautions whilst travelling in Guatemala alone at the age of 19 than I do now at home in London at 23!
2. Don’t let anything distract you from the screen – have your hand over the cash slot and/or hit the ‘CANCEL’ button as soon as anyone approaches you (I didn’t react fast enough after a long day at work)
3. Tell your bank you don’t want the emergency reserve cash applied to your account past your overdraft limit. This £200 pushed me over mine and charges would have been incurred had I not had someone transfer over cash to my account on the same night
4. Go into a bank to draw out cash during the day not on the street after dark if you can help it – if you must, not alone even in a busy street. The many people around led me into a false sense of security, making me think nobody would commit a crime in front of so many witnesses (a few gave police statements). Londoners naturally expect pick-pockets.
5. Possibly, check your balance before going straight for the cash as these gangs obviously assume most people in rush hour go directly after cash hence the good timing ambushing me at the correct screen ‘how much would you like to withdraw?’
6. Always get a receipt for proof. I gave mine to the police. It had the exact time on it and cameras in the area will be able to zone in on a specific shortened time period.

It is my hope that by writing this blog entry, I may be able to prevent at least one other robbery from occurring in this way. Please feel free to post your comments, share experiences or ideas about how we can raise awareness of this problem to reduce cases of crime against innocent (hard-working) individuals.