PONDA
They are expected to have proper security, but just how safe and secure are ATMs in Ponda city at night?
Barely days after burglars broke into two ATMs in separate incidents at Ponda taluka, investigations by The Goan have exposed lax security at ATMs all over Ponda city.
Eight security guards were found asleep, while four were absent from the ATM during an inspection of the 12 ATMs in Ponda city between 3 am and 5 am on Friday.
This exposé runs contrary to a recent security advisory by South Goa SP Arvind Gawas to all banks in Ponda and across South Goa, insisting on deployment of security guards around the clock at ATMs.
Though banks in Ponda city have equipped ATMs with security guards, they were either found asleep or missing at night, making it unsafe for customers accessing the facility and allowing burglars easy access to the premises at night.
It may be recalled that in July, thieves stole an ATM machine from Usgao containing Rs 3.90 lakh. The CCTV footage shows three persons entering the ATM centre, but while Ponda Police later arrested a person from Gulabarg-Bijapur, Karnataka, they failed to recover the stolen money so far.
Later on August 5, a person from Bantwal-Mangalore was arrested red handed while attempting to break open an ATM at Warkhande-Ponda.
Following these two incidents, The Goan conducted a survey of ATMs between 3 am and 5 am on Friday in Ponda city and found almost most security guards asleep inside ATM rooms, while some were found asleep outside the entrance.
Incidentally, the security guard of the ATM which was burgled at Warkhande-Ponda was also found asleep.
This reporter entered the ATMs and did some transactions, but it failed to rouse the sleeping security guards, who were blissfully unaware of the reporter's presence inside the ATM.
Besides, security guards were not seen at four ATMs in Ponda city during the survey.
SP's advisory has no impact in Ponda
PONDA: A recent security advisory by South Goa SP Arvind Gawas to 517 banks and financial institutions in South Goa seems to have had little impact on security at ATMs in Ponda city at night.
Speaking to The Goan, SP Gawas said he had issued a security advisory shortly after cases of thefts and burglaries were reported in banks and ATMs.
"We have provided details of measures to be taken at ATMs and in banks. This advisory was sent to all banks, financial institutions and even our police stations," SP Gawas said.
The advisory also suggested installation of CCTV cameras with a 30-day data storage facility and more importantly, the deployment of security guards round the clock to man
the ATMs.
"Security guards should be provided with uniforms, whistles, ID cards, fire arm/lathis, torch and registers for the police on patrol to sign," stated the security advisory.
Meanwhile, SP Arvind Gawas said police investigations into the Usgao ATM burglary has failed to make further progress and no concrete lead was found from the person arrested in the case.
"We arrested one person in the Usgao ATM burglary case, but we have not got any significant lead in the case. We are trying our best to nab the culprits," Gawas told The Goan.
