ATM location may be unsafe at night

By Mark Schulman
Assistant Editor

The ATM located behind the U.C. is a dangerous place to be at night.

There are no federal laws requiring minimal security measures for the safety of ATM patrons.

There are national standards in place to protect the cash machine from fraud and theft, according to the Department of Justice. However, only a handful of states have mandated legislation for the protection of citizens from robberies at ATMs and North Carolina is not one of them.

UNCP students should be able to access his their funds on campus without losing the convenience of minimal safety. There are no statistics compiled specifically on ATM robberies in our country because it is very difficult to do so. Many times these robberies are masked by more severe incidents that occur during ATM crimes such as assault, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

“ATMs should be placed in areas where there is a lot of routine vehicle and pedestrian traffic,” otherwise known as “natural surveillance,” according to the Justice Department. Without “natural surveillance,” problems occur.

Many factors can contribute to ATM robberies. This situation occurs when a lone victim is held against his or her will by a lone assailant between the hours of 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. at a walk-up ATM rather than drive-thru.

ATM robberies can be reduced by significant lighting, landscapes that don’t obscure the banker’s view and surveillance cameras.

The campus ATM is located in the parking lot with adequate lighting but offenders can easily lurk in the shadows between cars.

The only illusion of security present is the blue panic light located just a sprint-run away.

The location of the UNCP ATM during the day serves its purpose, but at night it may jeopardizes the safety of all students.

Studies have shown ATMs that are placed indoors are much safer than ones that are outdoors standing alone in the middle of a desolate parking lot, according to the Justice Department.

An ATM inside of the U.C. would be appropriate for those who wish to get cash after sundown, especially during the winter when days are shorter. A prime location for those who withdraw cash, especially during the late hours of the evening, would be near the campus police station to ensure us of our safety.

All of the surveillance cameras and criminal deterrents in the world could never keep the students totally safe but at least there can be an effort to reduce our vulnerabilities in ATM assaults.