1358
Bank RobberyAutomated Teller Machines (ATMs)
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From time to time, bank customers are robbed shortly after making
withdrawals from ATMs. In such circumstances, the Federal bank robbery
statute
would be inapplicable because, at the time of the robbery, the money belongs
to
and is in the possession of the customer, and is no longer in the care,
custody,
control, management or possession of the bank.
However, if a bank customer was forced at gun point to drive to the
bank's ATM and withdraw funds from his account, a Federal bank robbery
violation
may occur. The customer never had possession or control of the funds taken
from
the bank. The perpetrators simply used the customer and his bank card as
the
instrumentalities for accomplishing a bank robbery. In addition, these
facts
would support an investigation and prosecution for the aggravated forms of
bank
robbery under 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d) and (e).
With regard to ATMs actually located on bank premises, a break-in
or
attempted break-in of such a machine would seem to violate the second
paragraph
of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) (bank burglary) because the ATM, like a night
depository, is part of "any building used in whole or in part as a bank...."
See United States v. Lankford, 573 F.2d 1051 (8th Cir. 1970).
Some banks operate ATMs at remote locations far removed from the
bank
itself. It is unclear whether a break-in or attempted break-in of an
off-premises ATM would amount to a burglary of a building used in whole or
in
part as a bank. In this regard, we note that off-premises customer-bank
communications terminals have been held to be branch banks for purposes of
the
National Bank Act. Independent Bankers Association of America v.
Smith,
534 F.2d 921 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 862 (1976). In any
event, if money or other thing of value is actually taken and carried away
from
an off-premises bank ATM with intent to steal or purloin, there would be a
bank
larceny violation, 18 U.S.C. § 2113(b).
Some large grocery chains and other retail businesses provide ATMs
on
their premises for the convenience of their customers. These machines
provide
a shared electronic network which can access several financial institutions.
Generally, these machines are owned/leased and operated by the retailer, not
the
banks. Such facilities are not branch banks for purposes of the National
Bank
Act. Independent Bankers Association v. Marine Midland Bank, 757
F.2d 453
(2d Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1186 (1986). Since retailers
own/lease the machines and are responsible for loading the machines with
currency, it would appear that a burglary and theft of the contents of such
a
machine would not be a bank burglary or bank larceny. The retailer, not the
bank, would be the victim of such an offense. If however, money is
obtained by
the fraudulent use of a bank card, the transaction may be regarded as a bank
larceny.
[cited in USAM 9-61.600] | |