Gangs in Slovakia increasingly targeting cash machines, police respond with special team
ATM explosions are rising – there were 29 last year, with 15 already in the first quarter of 2026. The latest incident occurred in Dolné Saliby, where perpetrators made off with the entire machine.
Gangs in Slovakia increasingly targeting cash machines, police respond with special team
The only cash machine in the village of Dolné Saliby in the southern part of the country was destroyed by explosives on 18 March. Criminals subsequently drove away with the entire device. This act is part of a wider phenomenon that has spread across Slovakia in recent times, according to The Slovak Spectator.
Among the locations affected by similar attacks are Piešťany, Chtelnica, Madunice and Malacky. Statistics speak clearly: whilst authorities recorded 29 cases throughout the entire year 2025, from January to March 2026 a further 15 have been added.
How much money the robbers managed to obtain is unclear. Not all explosions bring them success – sometimes they are stopped by a patrol, at other times bystanders alert authorities. Security features on some machines render the cash worthless before the criminals can take it. Some cash machines contain systems that stain or render banknotes unusable. Police officers and financial institutions do not provide specific information for security reasons.
So far, only two individuals have been identified who could be directly involved in some of the incidents. Police leadership is taking the situation seriously – it has created a separate team dealing exclusively with groups attacking cash machines. The team comprises officers and investigators from all corners of the country. According to information from police headquarters, the wave of attacks could be the work of several different groups. Financial institutions have meanwhile declared that they are increasing security on their machines.
Source: The Slovak Spectator