Swedish cash machines run out of money

About half of the cash machines in Sweden’s biggest cities have run out of money after a string of armed robberies prompted a government agency to halt cash transports.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority on Friday ordered two security companies to temporarily stop cash transport in parts of the country and review their security arrangements.

The companies, Securitas and Falck, were to present plans for improved security today.

Sweden has recently seen a series of brazen robberies in which security transports have been attacked by heavily armed bandits.

The halt to cash transports also meant that large sums of money were left in shops and department stores, forcing owners to step up security.