Nusenda Branch Shut Down for Weeks After Thieves Use Forklift to Rip Out ATM
The incident is the latest in a national trend of ATM thefts that has been growing since the pandemic’s early days.
Joe Christian, president/CEO of the $3.4 billion Nusenda Federal Credit Union, said the South Eubank branch in Albuquerque, N.M., is expected to be closed for two to four weeks after thieves used a forklift to rip out the branch’s ATM causing extensive damage.
This incident was the latest in a national trend of ATM theft that has been growing since the pandemic’s early days. According to the Malvern, Pa.-based 3SI Security Systems, the theft of these cash machines using a vehicle increased by 53% in 2020 over 2019. And the average amount of cash stolen per ATM theft: $83,000.
The FBI in Albuquerque and local police are still searching for the unidentified suspects who stole Nusenda’s ATM at about 1 a.m. on June 3.
“The suspects caused significant structural damage to the building and property,” Christian said. “We are still in the process of assessing what it will take to restore the branch.”
Police reportedly retrieved the forklift stolen from a subcontractor. Cops also recovered about $13,000 in cash scattered on the street, according to local media reports. How much in cash the thieves may have gotten away with was not reported.
“I’m thankful for our Nusenda team and our local and national law enforcement partners,” Christian said. “They were on top of the incident within minutes. No one was hurt. Disruption to our members and employees has been minimal. Our branch will be back up and running quickly. In the meantime, we are happy to serve Albuquerque members in other locations.”
In a statement to the media, the FBI said, “The FBI and Albuquerque Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in finding the person responsible for the theft of an automated teller machine that occurred on June 3, 2021. An individual using a stolen forklift removed the ATM located at Nusenda Credit Union, 401 Eubank Blvd. SE, at approximately 1:15 a.m. The forklift and ATM were found several blocks away in the vicinity of the 9200 block of Trumbull Ave. SE. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300, or Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at (505) 843-STOP. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.”
The growth of ATM thefts started when credit unions and banks closed their lobbies and began doubling the cash held in their ATMs to meet member and customer demands during the pandemic, according to the New York-based Berkley Financial Specialist, which provides insurance solutions to financial institutions.
3SI Security Systems reported that ATM attacks increased by nearly 150% in 2020 over 2019, and that stand-alone ATMs were the most vulnerable accounting for 17% of attacks, followed by wall ATMs (14%), drive-thru ATMs (13%) and inside ATMs (12%).
According to 3SI, about 80% of the stolen money is recovered, but only one in four ATM criminals are arrested.
Texas had the nation’s most reported ATM crimes last year, followed, in order, by California, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, New York and Illinois, 3SI said.