Will an ATM Make My Store a Target? What Alabama Owners Should Know About ATM Security

It's the question almost every owner asks, even if they don't say it out loud: "If I put an ATM in here, am I asking to get broken into?"

It's a fair question. ATM thefts happen, and they've happened here. The honest answer is that an ATM can draw attention, but the risk can be managed, and with the right agreement, most of the financial risk isn't yours to carry.

Here's what you should know.

Do ATM thefts really happen in Alabama?

Yes. A few local examples:

• In Birmingham, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said two men used a chain and a stolen garbage truck to pull an ATM from its base at Forestdale Plaza just before 4 a.m.
• In Birmingham's Collegeville neighborhood, police interrupted a group trying to steal an ATM from a bank in the early morning hours.

Nationally, these thefts rose sharply a few years ago. Travelers, a major insurer, reported a 220% jump in claims for ATM theft damage in 2020 compared with 2019, according to NACS, the convenience store industry group.

How do ATM thefts usually happen?

Most follow the same pattern. Fraud investigators told NACS that thieves usually:

1. Strike in the early morning hours
2. Use a stolen truck or heavy equipment
3. Pry open the machine or attach chains to it
4. Pull it loose and leave, often in five minutes or less

In other words, most ATM thefts aren't a clever trick. They're fast and forceful. That's why the best defenses are about making the machine hard to reach, hard to move, and easy to see.

Who pays if your ATM is stolen?

This is the part that matters most to your wallet, and it depends entirely on your agreement.

With our free ATM placement: the machine and the cash inside it are ours. If they're stolen, that loss falls on us, not you. Damage to your building, like a broken door or window, is normally handled by your own property insurance. Our placement agreement puts these responsibilities in writing, so there's no guessing after the fact.

With other providers: read your agreement. Look for any section on theft, loss, damage, or insurance. If it says nothing, ask. And if you own your ATM, the machine and the cash are yours to protect, so talk with your insurance agent.

Either way, tell your insurance agent you have an ATM, and share your agreement so they know who owns the machine and the cash.

What makes an ATM a harder target?

These steps don't make theft impossible. They make your store a worse choice than the next one.

Put it inside, where people can see it. Inside the store, in view of the counter and cameras, is much safer than a dark corner or an unwatched entryway.

Install it properly. A machine that's properly installed is harder to pull loose. Installation is part of what we handle with free placement.

Keep it in camera view. Cameras help deter thieves, help police, and help settle any "the machine didn't give me my money" disputes.

Light it up. Thieves prefer the dark. Keep the area lit, inside and out.

Use your alarm. If your store has an alarm, make sure it covers the area near the ATM.

Don't block exits or create a hidden nook. The machine shouldn't create a spot where someone can work unseen.

For outdoor and drive-up machines, security planning is a bigger job. We handle outdoor installations from start to finish. See outdoor ATM placement.

What about skimming and card fraud?

Theft isn't the only risk. Skimming is when criminals attach a hidden device to an ATM to copy card data. It targets your customers, not your cash, but it still hurts your business's reputation.

Two things help:

• Regular checks. Anyone servicing the machine should look for loose parts, odd attachments, or anything that doesn't belong.
• Tap-to-pay. Tap-to-pay readers let customers tap a phone or card instead of inserting it. Hyosung, one of the largest ATM makers, says this removes skimming risk. Tap-to-pay is available on our machines for qualifying locations.

Is it safe to have an ATM in your store?

For most businesses, yes, with the right setup and the right agreement.

The owners who get hurt are usually the ones who never asked who pays when something goes wrong. Ask that question before you sign. Get the answer in writing. Then put the machine where people can see it, and let the company that owns it carry the risk that comes with owning it.

For the full list of questions to ask, read 12 questions to ask before you let an ATM company into your business. To see how our program works, read how free ATM placement works.