Is there a sudden shortage of chains and hooks?

I always enjoy getting questions from members – often about very obscure issues. And it often means doing some detective work to fully address the question/issue. The most recent question I received was not obscure at all – in fact, it’s one that I thought might be on many member’s minds, even if not quite ready to be voiced. “Do you have information/data available that would explain the root cause for the decrease in Hook and Chain incidents?”

Of course, ATMIA’s CCMIS (Crisis and Crime Management Intelligence System) database is the go-to resource for determining the current threats – wherever in the U.S. you are – as well as what has changed. Looking at those numbers from the first 6 months of incident reports, June through December of 2021, 70.5% of attacks were Physical. And 60.5% of those were Theft of the ATM itself using a vehicle. An amazing 22% were actually manual removals.

Fast forward to 2024 and only 40% of all U.S. attacks were Theft of the ATM. 18% of all attacks were some form of Skimming. Jackpotting of all types rose to 19%. (Theft from the ATM was about the same). 

So far this year, Theft of the ATM is all the way down to 11%, with Theft from the ATM at only 8%. Dispenser Jackpotting, however, is up to 25%. And – one might think we have gone back in time 10 or 15 years – Skimming is up to 52% of all attacks in the U.S. The picture of ATM crime has definitely changed.

The reason for the change is speculative. The industry has made concerted efforts to strengthen its physical defenses. At the same time, we are seeing more sophisticated fraud attacks, as deployers work to keep up with bad-guy technology. I guess the truth of the matter is that you would have to interview the crooks to truly learn the reason for the big change in methodology.

Lesson learned, though, is to be careful about how much attention you pay to the Day 1 numbers that pop up when you first login to the database. Theft of the ATM is 49% of attacks in the U.S., but that is an average over time. The reality today, in 2025, is much different.

Best regards to all.

David