printer friendly version

Historic Collaboration cuts ATM Bombings by 30%

Project Big-Bang, a collaborative industry-wide task team, has successfully reduced ATM bombings in South Africa by 30,7% during the predetermined measurement period of November, December and January 2024/5.

Established in May 2024, the Big Bang Task Team combined outsourced investigation units, internal banking and ATM deployer investigation units, as well as key support from Online Intelligence, the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), the Petroleum Security Initiative (PSI), oil companies and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to achieve this feat. This joint effort led to the identification, tracing, and arrests of 46 top perpetrators linked to 69 cases, as well as the seizing of explosives, vehicles, firearms, clothing used at the scene, and more than R400 000 dye-stained cash.

Formed in large part as a response to the 72% increase in ATM bombings from 2019 to 2023 (SABRIC), the Big Bang Task Team was a response and prevention initiative that ran from May 2024 until January 2025. By working together to identify key perpetrators and modus operandi, the task team was able to create a comprehensive picture of how and why ATM bombings take place, as well as identify key areas where more data was necessary.

These data gaps were often filled via police collaboration, where arresting officers interviewed suspects accordingly. With an initial goal of a 20% decrease compared to the same period for the year prior, the task team has produced an unmitigated success.

“This project has proven that when industries collaborate, meaningful change happens,” states project manager and Online Intelligence representative, Mischa Theron. “It also highlights how data-driven intelligence can be a powerful force in combating complex security challenges. My hope is that this success will inspire other industries to form alliances and take a proactive stance in fighting crime.”

While the project’s initial scope has now concluded, this step toward industry collaboration signals a new approach for South African crime prevention in this sector – one that reflects a shared commitment to the greater good and a safer future for all.

Share this article:

Further reading: