2006年VOA标准英语-Thefts of ATM Bank Machines on the Rise

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
19 October 2006
 
watch ATM Theft Increasing

Robberies involving A.T.M.s, or Automated¹ Teller² Cash Machines, are on the rise.  In the Southwestern United States, law enforcement officials say there have been more than two dozen attempted thefts of ATM's by thieves using stolen heavy equipment.

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Telephone caller to police: "Yeah, this is Chase Security, I've got a forklift stealing one of our ATMs right now."

The empty space is where an ATM used to sit  
  
Bank surveillance video shows the crime in progress as a stolen forklift rips an ATM machine off its foundation.

 
Mark Clark
  
Sergeant³ Mark Clark with the Scottsdale, Arizona Police Department says it's a growing problem nationwide.  "It seems to be the crime of choice right now.  They are sticking the forks into the base of the ATM.  They are lifting it off its foundations and then they are sticking it in the box truck and driving off with it."

In the past month, thieves have stolen ATMs from four Arizona cities.  Some bank customers were surprised to learn at least 21 attempted robberies have occurred in Phoenix⁴, Arizona.

Bob Tramontano  
  
And in some cases, hardly worthwhile.  Bob Tramontano works for the NCR Corporation, which manufactures some of the ATMs.  He says even the most skilled thieves often have trouble getting the cash inside. "They are absolutely very strong vaults⁵.  They are built to the same standards you have in a bank."

Even if the thieves succeed, the pay-off from small ATM machines can be as little as $200.  Larger machines can yield up to $30,000 but Tramontano says those are often equipped with satellite tracking devices. "ATMs are deployed⁶ sometimes with GPS (Global Positioning System) on it so it is very easy to track the ATM should it get stolen."

Authorities hope surveillance video, such as the one where thieves on the upper left corner of the screen can be seen using a bulldozer, will lead to arrests.  But Sgt. Clark believes there may be more than one group involved. "There's probably some copycat going on and there's varying levels of skill involved in these thefts."

Last month, a thief reprogrammed an ATM machine at a Virginia gas station to disburse⁷ higher denominations⁸ of cash.  The crime was not discovered until a week later when a customer alerted a store employee.

Banking⁹ experts say cases of theft and fraud involving ATM machines are growing worldwide because the machines have become commonplace in almost every major city.

1 automated   

a.自动化的

参考例句：

• The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
• Automated Highway System (AHS) is recently regarded as one subsystem of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). 近年来自动公路系统(Automated Highway System,AHS)，作为智能运输系统的子系统之一越来越受到重视。

2 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

3 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

4 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

5 vaults   

n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴

参考例句：

• It was deposited in the vaults of a bank. 它存在一家银行的保险库里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 disburse   

v.支出，拨款

参考例句：

• Cashiers receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions.除了金融机构，出纳员也会在一些社会机构里收款付款。
• On approval,we will disburse the fund to your designated bank account directly.一经批核，贷款将于扣除手续费后直接存入您指定的银行账户。

8 denominations   

n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• The service was attended by Christians of all denominations. 这次礼拜仪式各教派的基督徒都参加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。