Police set up ATM attack taskforce

A dedicated taskforce has been established by WA Police in response to a spate of ATM explosions in the metropolitan area, with four targeted attacks in the Peel district in the past fortnight.

In the past six months there have been nine ATM attacks in the Peel region, along with another seven across Perth in the past three months.

Arson Squad Sergeant Kevin Wisbey said the taskforce, named Operation Boiler, would be dedicated to cracking the code behind the person or persons responsible for ATM explosions causing hundreds of thousands of dollars damage to businesses and shopping centres.

Sgt Wisbey said officers would be specifically assigned to the problem areas, including Peel.

“The ATM’s would be their sole duty,” he said.

Last week, from December 23 to December 30, there were five ATM explosions across Perth, with locations in Leda, Medina and Port Kennedy all targeted.

Just before 5am on Christmas Day, police were called to Stargate Shopping Centre, Leda, where an ANZ ATM was blown up.

Moments later officers were called to a second explosion at Medina Green shopping centre where a Westpac machine was targeted.

On Christmas Eve, an ANZ ATM at Stargate Shopping Centre Port Kennedy was destroyed just before 5am.

The spate of attacks in Peel over the past fortnight started on Friday, December 20, when Belgravia Terrace, Rockingham, was locked down.

Police, including arson, bomb squad and Department of Fire and Emergency Services officers, were called to attend an incident involving a gas bottle attached to an ANZ ATM.

The gas cylinder was removed without incident.

A police spokeswoman said the greatest concern was for public safety, with the explosion at Medina Green shopping centre occurring across the road from a school and homes.

Rockingham Sergeant Andrew Maher said another concern of ATM fires was people could be injured, including innocent people or the perpetrators themselves.

Sgt Maher said the attacks also put a strain on police resources.

“With the incidents occurring so close together, we really hope to catch someone soon,” he said.

Police would not reveal if, or how much money, was stolen from any of the attacks, but estimated the total damage caused in Peel was in excess of $1 million.

Rockingham police now routinely patrol ATMs in the area as part of the designated taskforce.

A police spokeswoman said the machines were highly secure and things could quickly go wrong when they had explosives attached to them or were set alight.

“ATM robberies can cause a lot of damage to buildings and people for not a lot of gain,” she said.

ATTACKS BY SUBURBS

Baldivis 1

Leda 1

Meadow Springs 1

Medina 1

Port Kennedy 2

Rockingham 2

Secret Harbour 1

ATM ATTACK TIMELINE

Monday, July 29 Council Avenue, Rockingham

Thursday, October 31 Secret Harbour Shopping Centre

Monday, November 25 Port Kennedy Central Shopping Centre

Tuesday, December 10 Meadow Springs Shopping Centre and Stocklands Baldivis Shopping Centre

Friday, December 20 Anchorage Village shopping centre, Rockingham

Tuesday, December 24 Stargate Shopping Centre Port Kennedy

Wednesday, December 25 Stargate Shopping Centre, Leda and Medina Green shopping centre