Free Cash ATM Prompts Police Call in England, Cops Arrive To Calm Crowds

An ATM dispensing free cash bestowed a boon of double-bounties on several British banking customers at a cashpoint in Ipswich for an unspecified time, until police were called in to halt the free cash orgy.

The Ipswich Lloyd’s TSB ATM malfunctioned, dispensing double the requested amount of cash for customers patronizing the cashpoint — and an unknown number got a free cash bonus due to the banking mixup.

Police were ultimately called to the Robin Hood ATM, though we can only imagine who called and what the report was — “Hey Officer, get down here quick! This ATM is awesome!”

Actually, not surprisingly, the free cash ATM drew attention when police were called to do crowd control due to all the rowdy Brits that gathered to get in while the getting was good on the faulty ATM. Word spread quickly around Ipswich that for every £10 or £20 withdrawn a matching amount was dispensed, tipping off the bank to the fact that their machine was doling out free money.

Ultimately, greedy ATM-goers began bickering at the free cash ATM, which led to the police calls. It’s believed that only 30 people were able to take advantage of the banking error to get free cash, and that they’ll likely be able to keep the funds as the bank is probably unable to trace and recoup the money.

A spokesman for Lloyds TSB confirmed the free cash ATM malfunction, saying:

“For a very short period of time, the ATM at Nacton Road was misdispensing cash whilst the branch was closed… The machine was put out of service. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Police in Ipswich said that the issue was not really a law enforcement matter, but that cops were on scene until the ATM could be switched off:

“The incorrect dispensing of cash is not a police issue, but we remained on scene until staff from the Lloyds bank arrived and turned off the cash machine.”

Have you ever encountered an ATM that made an error in the customer’s favor, like the free cash ATM in England?