The ATM operator Cardtronics has found that the UK is experiencing an ‘epidemic’ of attacks on cash machines causing damage of up to £150 million, as reported by Yahoo News.

The report found that rural areas are being increasingly targeted with 31 per cent of incidents involving rural machines in 2013, rising to 42 per cent in 2018. Overall, attacks have increased from 400 in 2014 to 722 in 2017.

As it can take up to four and a half months for a cash machine to be repaired, rural communities are often left struggling to get hold of their money for long periods of time. Cardtronics has called for the Government to strengthen its response to the crimes with longer prison sentences and enhanced surveillance equipment.

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→ Yahoo News - Report urges action over ‘epidemic’ of criminal attacks on ATMs