Ram raiders, ATM attackers to face longer spells in jail

The public prosecution department said on Wednesday it is going to increase its sentencing demands for ram raiders and people who blow up ATMs.

The current guidelines sentence is 15 months in jail for both offences, but the risk to both people and property is considerable, hence the need for tougher sentences, the public prosecutor said.

In particular, thieves are using increasingly powerful explosives to blow up ATMs and this has increased the risk of buildings collapsing.

The sentencing demand for blowing up an ATM will now range from 12 to 24 months, if there are no homes in the building. However, if people do live in the same block, the sentence should be four years in jail, the department said.

Ram raiders will face jail terms of 21 months.

The Dutch retail association welcomed the move. ‘Now boost the odds of catching them,’ a spokesman told news agency ANP.

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