Shocking moment man plants bombs in ATMs
Seven News has obtained footage never seen before of an Adelaide ATM bomber at work, executing two attacks on cash machines at suburban shopping centres.
The father, who told the court he needed the money for a costly custody battle, said he was inspired by watching YouTube clips on the internet.
Footage appears to show “The ATM Bomber” Vincent Graalman smashing his way into the Newton Shopping Centre.
With time ticking, he jumps on a scooter and races up the travelator.
He finds the cash machine and quickly gets to work, bashing it with a steel bar.
Eventually he prises open the cash slot then makes a deposit of explosives, lighting the fuse before ducking for cover.
It explodes moments later, then the man grabs $2500 worth of cash before scooting off.
ATM Bomber’s first failed heist attempt
Months earlier, Graalman was caught on camera at Adelaide’s Tea Tree Plaza driving a stolen scooter through the shopping centre mall.
He was spotted smashing open an ATM then brazenly blowing it up, but that first job didn’t yield a cent.
The court heard Graalman got his inspiration for the crimes from the internet, while watching YouTube videos of ATMs overseas being blown up with explosives.
How the ATM Bomber was exposed
The 41-year-old said he needed money to fund a costly child custody battle, but the judge believed the father’s true motivation was the lure of obtaining large amounts of cash for his carefully planned crimes.
The scooter was found dumped six kilometres away in the River Torrens, at Paradise.
DNA from that and a steel bar left at the scene led police to their suspect, and he was arrested at his Newton unit.
On Monday Graalman was sentenced to more than seven years behind bars.
He will be eligible for parole in five years and nine months.
