Lincoln Police arrested two men in connection with a theft at at West Gate Bank near 13th and West ‘O’ Street. LPD Public Information Officer Erika Thomas says the branch manager reported a man wearing a black surgical mask opened the door of the interactive teller machine before leaving in a white van.
“Officers then contacted a white van matching the description in an adjacent parking lot,” LPD Public Information Officer Erika Thomas says two men were taken into
custody. A search of the van located multiple items related to the theft, including a solid state drive valued at between $5,000-$10,000, which is critical for the ITM to function properly.
“This scheme is an example of ‘jackpotting’ where criminals upload malware to gain access to banking information or take control of ITMs to withdraw large amounts of
cash,” Thomas says. “We want to commend the actions of our officers to avoid any substantial loss of money or private information.”
31-year-old Luis Berdugo-Barraza and 34-year-old Carlos Padron were taken to the Lancaster County Jail and booked for theft by unlawful taking, unlawful manufacture of a finacial transaction device and possession of burglar’s tools.
ITM’s are similar to an ATM and offer video conferencing capabilities that connect people to a remote teller who can assist with transactions and answer questions.