Two Romanian men, ages 25 and 49, were arrested by the National Police in Alicante after they were caught trying to steal money from an ATM in the city centre using the “Lebanese loop” method. The individuals who were arrested are being charged with fraud and damage to property.
Alicante’s police operation happened on the night of November 8th. Authorities were told about two males messing with an ATM at a bank on a central thoroughfare in the city by a call to the 091 emergency number.
The officers who went to the scene saw two men nearby who matched the descriptions given by witnesses. They then quietly followed the men as they walked towards a bank branch a few hundred metres away from the first one where they were seen messing with the ATM.
The police unit stationed near the bank saw that one of the men was using what looked like a screwdriver to mess with the plate at the bottom of the ATM. The other man, serving as a guard, attempted to conceal him from detection.
Tried to get away
The officers decided to go up to them and ask who they were because of what was going on. The suspects saw the police, though, and tried to run away on foot in different directions. The policemen called for assistance, and the two men were finally caught.
The officers checked the ATMs of the local banks and saw that two of them had messed with the metal plates that the cash comes out of. They then arrested the two individuals for fraud and mischief.
When the agents searched both detainees, they found a slightly bent flat-head screwdriver and a bunch of plastic sheets that were used to rob ATMs using the “Lebanese loop” method.
The police did their job and then transferred the inmates to the duty court of Alicante.
A way to steal that has been around for a long time
A few years ago, a lot of people adopted the “Lebanese loop” method. It includes putting thin sheets of metal inside the cash dispenser slot of an ATM, which makes the currency get caught when someone tries to take it out. After this, one of the criminals takes advantage of the user’s preoccupation or abandonment of the ATM, approaches, picks up the stuck cash, and steals it.
Also, the ATM can’t be used until it is fixed. This is frequently done at night, when banks are sure to be closed.
Another way to do the “Lebanese loop” is to take cards from people who think the ATM has eaten them, while in fact the scammers have put something in the way to block them.
The National Police are telling people to be very careful while using these money withdrawal stations and to call the Security Forces right away if they see a gadget like this.
Author: Derek Appleton
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