A number of cases have been reported recently where criminals follow people from the bank to their homes and then rob them of their cash.
Duduza police spokesman Sergeant Harry Manaka says the criminals are careful when choosing their targets.
“They wait inside the banks and look out for any person withdrawing large sums of cash.
“On Monday, at about noon, a school principal from Duduza was followed from Tsakane Mall after withdrawing money from the bank.
“He was accompanied by a member of the school governing body.
“When they got inside the school premises, two suspects pointed firearms at them, forced them to lie on the ground and stole R1 400 from them,” he says.
Manaka says the suspects fled in a white Mercedes-Benz they had parked a few metres from the school.
“In a second incident on the same day, around 1pm, another man was also followed from a Nigel bank where he had withdrawn R50 000 in cash.
“When he arrived at his house, he parked the vehicle and went inside the house.
“His daughter told him that his car boot was open and he saw a man running away. The man climbed into a blue Mercedes Kompressor and drove off with the cash.
“Duduza police are investigating cases of robbery and theft out of a motor vehicle,” he says.
Manaka says they are urging residents to always have someone with them whenever they withdraw large sums of cash.
He warned:
• Ensure you don’t expose cash in the bank.
• Look around for suspicious people walking close to you.
• Never speak to strangers as you walk to your vehicle.
• Avoid carrying large sums of cash.
• Always be alert before you park your vehicle at home.
“You must also look around for any vehicle that might be following you, and not stop for any person flicking lights at you,” he says.
Manaka says members of the public should use different routes to and from the bank.
He said residents should remember to always have the police number handy too: 10111,
or to send an SMS to the crime help line on 32211.
• Also read: Police warning: Thugs target Wi-Fi users at hot spots
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