During the night of November 3 to 4, an ATM was attacked by criminals. They targeted the Caisse d'Epargne which is located in the city center, at 10 boulevard Gallieni, in Vic-en-Bigorre.
On the night of November 3 to 4, an act of delinquency shook the town of Vic-en-Bigorre. Criminals attacked the Caisse d'Épargne automatic teller machine (ATM), located in the city center, at 10 boulevard Gallieni. This place, usually calm, was the scene of a carefully targeted criminal operation, which immediately mobilized the police.
An attack in the middle of the night
In the early hours of the day, the inhabitants of Vic-en-Bigorre discovered traces of the incident which took place during the night. The attackers deliberately chose to attack the Caisse d'Épargne ATM. The precise circumstances of the attack, as well as the modus operandi of the criminals, have not yet been officially communicated by the gendarmes in charge of the investigation.
A rapid response from the police
As soon as the alert was given, the Hautes-Pyrénées gendarmes went to the scene. They quickly secured the area around the distributor to avoid any risk to the public and to preserve possible clues. In addition, criminal identification technicians from the gendarmerie were deployed to carry out the necessary surveys.
These specialists scrupulously examined the distributor and its environment, looking for material evidence. Their work could prove decisive in tracking down the criminals. Samples were taken, and the scene was photographed from all angles, in the hope of discovering clues left by the attackers, whether DNA traces, fingerprints, or other elements. compromising.
Damage estimated at €100,000
Bérengère Prud'homme, public prosecutor of Tarbes, takes stock of the case. “I confirm the attack on an ATM last night in Vic-en-Bigorre. The perpetrators forced it using a gas explosion. There were at least two suspects, hooded, who fled in a vehicle The damage is approximately 100,000 euros. The procedure appears to be the same as for a previous attempt in Bazet at the end of September. of the investigation”.
An impact for the population
The Caisse d'Épargne ATM represents an essential service for many residents of Vic-en-Bigorre, particularly those who have no other means of access to banking services. The attack and necessary repairs could deprive residents of this access for an indefinite period, thus creating significant inconvenience.
An ongoing investigation
For now, the investigation is continuing. The gendarmes hope that the clues noted by the criminal identification technicians will make it possible to quickly find the perpetrators of this attack. No additional details have yet been communicated on the manner in which the criminals proceeded, nor on the possible damage suffered by the distributor or the sum of money possibly taken. Investigators will also analyze surveillance cameras located in the area, which could provide key elements to identify the suspects.
Bazet – An ATM stolen on September 27, 2024: damage estimated at €65,000
On the night of Thursday September 26 to Friday September 27, a spectacular theft took place in the Bazet commercial area, located along the departmental road linking Tarbes to Vic-en-Bigorre. Several hooded individuals targeted the Société Générale automatic teller machine (ATM), using explosives to seize the machine. The amount of damage was estimated at around €65,000.
From the early hours of Friday morning, activity in the Bazet commercial area was marked by a significant presence of law enforcement. Although the businesses opened their doors, the gendarmes prevented any access to vehicles to secure the crime scene and allow the investigations to proceed smoothly.
The gendarmes from the criminal identification unit of the Hautes-Pyrénées gendarmerie group were on site to identify clues likely to help them identify the perpetrators of this daring theft. At the same time, a neighborhood survey was also launched to collect additional information.
Significant resources were deployed for this investigation. The Tarbes research brigade, the criminal identification cell, as well as the Toulouse research section and the central office for the fight against itinerant delinquency had been mobilized.
The public prosecutor, Bérengère Prud'homme, confirmed the facts. She specified: “This day, around 4:30 a.m., the gendarmerie was alerted that a Société Générale ATM had been attacked with an explosive. It appears that several hooded individuals are involved. The damage is estimated at around 65,000 euros. The investigation is being carried out by the research brigade.”
Laloubère – They try to steal the Géant Casino ATM in 2019
On the night of Saturday March 30 to Sunday March 31, 2019, individuals attempted to steal money from the ATM in the Géant Casino commercial area in Laloubère. The criminals were visibly frightened when the alarm went off and fled. The police were notified and an investigation was immediately opened. Obviously, the criminals were not professionals in organized crime since they had acted with one of their vehicles. Indeed, thanks to the video surveillance images, the police did not take long to arrest them by tracing them back to the owner of the vehicle.
Rabastens-de-Bigorre: the ATM ripped out in July 2015
Friday July 10, 2015, at 4 a.m., the Crédit Agricole ATM on the central square of Rabastens-de-Bigorre was snatched by thugs. The latter had managed to escape, and the amount of the loot had not been communicated.
Tarbes: explosive robbers arrested in 2013
The robbers who blew up a Crédit Agricole ATM on August 8, 2013, were arrested in December 2013. It was a case that caused a lot of noise at the time: the Crédit Agricole ATMs of Bayonne, Lacq and Tarbes had been attacked and robbed with explosives, on the night of August 7 to 8, 2013. The three robberies, committed with the same operating method, therefore left little doubt about the existence of the same gang of thugs. And it is these alleged robbers, aged 28 to 36, who were arrested by the gendarmes in the towns of Miramas, Montélimar and Commenay. They would have stolen some 80,000 euros, almost 50,000 from the Tarbes distributor.
Tournay: Attempted burglary at Crédit Agricole. Two men arrested in 2012
On the night of Wednesday March 29 to Thursday March 1, 2012, around 4:30 a.m., four individuals attempted to burglarize the Crédit Agricole Pyrénées Gascogne, 10, place d'Astarac in Tournay. The thugs, who were not from the Hautes-Pyrénées, were real professionals. Their attempt had been planned, organized and they had equipped themselves accordingly – hoods and blowtorches in their bags. Their target? The bank's ATM. To get there, they entered the bank's premises. Despite all their paraphernalia, they forgot a “detail” which would prove fatal for their business: the video surveillance of the establishment. The security system had alerted the operational center of the National Gendarmerie, which had sent the gendarmes on surveillance rounds that night. The Tournay gendarmes, the closest, were also mobilized. When the police arrived, the robbers tried to flee. On board their large engine car, they wanted to force their way past the police, but lost control of their vehicle and hit the parapet of a bridge. The gendarmes took the opportunity to get their hands on two of the four thugs – injured by the accident and who had to be evacuated (under guard) by the firefighters to the nearest hospital – while the other two took the powder. escape.
Despite all the efforts of the gendarmes, who had deployed an operational search system, including a helicopter and a dog handler, the fugitives could not be found. During this time, a fire broke out in the bank. Probably because of the robbers' attempts to break into the distributor. The fire was quickly brought under control by the firefighters. The individuals arrested were well known to the police.
Automatic teller machines (ATMs) have become prime targets for criminals in France, attracted by the large amount of cash they contain. An ATM contains on average 150,000 euros in cash when it is full, which represents a considerable temptation for criminals seeking to take it by any means.
The first ATM saw the light of day in France in 1968, marking a real revolution in access to cash for individuals. Since then, the number of ATMs has continued to increase, reaching today around 65,000 units spread throughout the national territory. They allow millions of French people to withdraw cash 24 hours a day, in sometimes very isolated places.
Easy targets for criminals
Although traditional banks have historically been the first victims of robberies, the trend has evolved over time. Today, ATM attacks have become a preferred mode of operation for several reasons. On the one hand, these devices are often located in remote locations or outside the immediate reach of law enforcement, making attacks easier. On the other hand, armed robberies targeting bank tellers are increasingly rare, partly because bank staff now have restricted access to cash. ATMs have therefore become more attractive targets for criminals.
The methods for attacking an ATM vary: some criminals use explosives to blow up the machines, while others opt for more sophisticated methods, such as computer hacking. These attacks, although complex, allow criminals to steal large sums of money quickly, without having to directly confront a bank's staff or customers.
A fluctuating, but alarming phenomenon
The number of ATM attacks varies from year to year in France, but it is generally between 150 and 200 incidents recorded each year. This fluctuation can be linked to different factors, such as the improvement of security devices installed around distributors, prevention strategies put in place by law enforcement, or the diversification of methods used by criminals to circumvent these devices.
Despite efforts to strengthen the security of ATMs, their vulnerability remains a source of concern. The prospect of stealing tens of thousands of euros in a few minutes is sufficient incentive for this type of delinquency to persist.
Faced with this growing threat, French banks and authorities are striving to strengthen the security of ATMs by increasing preventive measures. These include the installation of anti-explosive devices, improved video surveillance systems and the establishment of banknote protection mechanisms (e.g. ink smear systems which render banknotes unusable in case of theft).
However, the sophistication of attacks is increasing as technology advances, requiring law enforcement and banks to remain vigilant and constantly innovate to deal with this phenomenon.
