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ATM blowing up in Arnoldstein: Police use helicopter!
On April 2, 2025, an ATM was blown up in Arnoldstein. An extensive search for the perpetrators is underway.
ATM blowing up in Arnoldstein: Police use helicopter!
An ATM explosion occurred in the Austrian municipality of Arnoldstein in the early hours of April 2, 2025. Waltraud Dullnigg, press spokeswoman for the state police department, confirmed the incident and announced a large-scale search for the perpetrators. Police helicopters, dog handlers and numerous emergency services are on duty to provide support. Further information on what happened is expected soon as the investigation is already well underway. The situation in Arnoldstein is part of a threatening trend in Austria that has increased significantly in recent years. A special commission called “SOKO Bankomat” was set up to counter this increasing danger.
Increasing number of ATMs being blown up
The number of ATM explosions in Austria increased to a worrying 14 cases in 2023, which already exceeds the total for the entire year 2024, when there were only 13 explosions. This development contrasts with the figures of previous years, which recorded 19 explosions in 2022, 8 in 2021 and 7 in 2020. The previous highs from 2018 and 2019 could soon be exceeded. The phenomenon is not new; There were already a series of ATM explosions and thefts in 2010 and 2011, which posed major challenges for the authorities. Investigators are currently reporting on at least five active groups of perpetrators in the country.
The special commission “SOKO Bankomat”, headed by Dieter Csefan, was set up to coordinate national and international investigations and improve cooperation between authorities and banks. This is seen as a necessary measure as banks have now strengthened their security measures and some ATMs have been temporarily shut down.
Legal action against suspects
The Federal Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against a Romanian citizen in connection with ATM blasts. He will be held responsible for his involvement in the blowing up of two ATMs in the canton of Schaffhausen in 2021. In an incident in Wilchingen, 37,380 francs and 8,550 euros were stolen, while the property damage amounted to around 51,500 francs. Another incident in Buchberg ended without any loot, but left property damage amounting to around 223,000 francs. The accused was arrested in Hungary and extradited to Switzerland, where he is now in custody.
The charge against the Romanian includes serious offenses such as endangerment with explosives, qualified theft and theft of a vehicle. It remains to be seen what further legal action the authorities will take to combat increasing crime around ATMs.
The situation remains tense, and the police operations and the investigations by the “SOKO Bankomat” special commission are of crucial importance given the dramatic increase in ATM explosions.