Cash machine raid foiled by Leeds tech firm venture

A GAS attack on a bank cash machine failed thanks to an ATM protection product developed by Leeds firm Safe & Vault Company.

The firm partnered with Wolverhampton’s Gunnebo UK to create the collaborative brainchild the Gas Attack Protection (GP-X) system.

The product foiled a night time raid at a major high street bank branch.

The failed thieves left empty-handed when the GP-X detected the gas, triggered the alarm and prevented the explosion.

Leeds-based Safe & Vault Company develops strong rooms, panic rooms, vaults and safety deposit boxes.

Gunnebo UK key account manager Steve Lockhart said: “Unlike similar attacks, there was no collateral damage to the bank building and the money remained secure inside the ATM. The branch was able to open for business as usual the next morning.”

The GP-X was installed by Gunnebo UK and developed by Safe & Vault Company to address the increase in ATM gas attacks in the UK.

The GP-X can be factory-fitted and retro-fitted to existing machines. It detects flammable gas or oxygen and then implements a range of measures to prevent the explosion and fire, as well as triggering an alarm.

Gunnebo UK and Safe & Vault Company have also launched another new product, the ATM Strongarm, to thwart ram raiders and pull out attacks.