Strike Force Piccadilly and ATM Security: A Follow-up Study

Abstract

This article provides a follow-up evaluation of 'Strike Force Piccadilly'-a successful New South Wales Police public-private partnership to combat Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) ram raids [Prenzler, T. (2009). 'Strike Force Piccadilly: A Public-Private Partnership to Stop ATM Ram Raids.' Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management 32: 209-225]. The original study showed a significant reduction in raids 12 months after the implementation of a range of countermeasures including a 1800 police hotline, relocation of ATMs, and the installation of anti-ramming devices. The present study adds 2 years of additional data from 2008 to 2010. It was found that the reduction in ram raids was sustained and reduced even further. At the same time, there was a shift in offender tactics to the use of explosive 'gas attacks' in 2008. This problem was in turn minimized by police investigations, the incapacitation of gang members, and the installation of gas detection and disabling equipment. The follow-up study reinforced the value of public-private crime reduction partnerships and the need to be adaptive to new threats.