Shocking Vandalism in Tiberias: "People Are Smashing ATMs"
An unprecedented phenomenon is troubling bank management following systematic damage to essential devices. The suspected cause of these actions is quite unexpected, and residents are now paying a high price.
Mako reported on Monday that a wave of vandalism against bank property is shaking Tiberias. Four cash withdrawal machines have been disabled in recent days following the smashing of their screens. The police are collecting footage from security cameras, while residents express outrage over the damage to this essential service.
A worrying and unprecedented phenomenon has been occupying bank management and the residents of Tiberias in recent days. Unknown individuals are systematically damaging ATMs located at various branches throughout the city. So far, at least four cases have been recorded in which the touch screens of the machines were completely smashed using stones, fists, and heavy objects, causing financial damage estimated at tens of thousands of shekels.
The prevailing assessment at this time is that the background to these actions is not nationalistic or related to organized crime, but rather an outburst of rage by customers who encountered a withdrawal refusal due to a debit balance, exceeding the credit limit, or technical malfunctions. The momentary frustration from the error message on the screen was quickly translated into physical violence intended to take revenge on the automatic machine.
Alongside the direct financial damage to financial institutions, the main victims of these actions are the city's residents. Disabling the banking machines creates significant inconvenience, especially for the elderly population and business owners who rely on daily cash availability.
The only alternative remaining in areas where the machines were vandalized is the use of private ATMs scattered in kiosks and commercial centers, but these charge withdrawal fees significantly higher than the regulated fees at bank branches.
One of the city's residents says:
"People who are frustrated because they do not receive approval for cash withdrawals simply take out their anger on the ATMs and break the screens, whether with a stone or with fists."
