A Brakpan resident is living in fear after recently being robbed of R60 000 shortly after making a withdrawal from Standard Bank at the K90 Centre in Boksburg.
The victim, Patrick Williams, recounted his harrowing experience in an interview with Boksburg Advertiser.
“I went to the Standard Bank branch at K90 to withdraw money after a visit to Sandton.
“I followed the bank’s procedures and approached the help desk to request a withdrawal of R60 000 from my account.”
Initially, a bank employee informed Williams that he could only withdraw R50 000 without prior notice but that he could obtain the additional R10 000 from an ATM if his withdrawal limit was increased.
“After being directed to a teller, I was able to complete the transaction and left the bank with the full amount.
“The teller was in the adjacent compartment and seemed to know all about my withdrawal.”
The teller reversed the initial transaction and provided him with R60 000 in cash, which Williams carefully concealed in specially modified inner pockets of his jacket before heading home.
However, the safety precautions Williams took proved futile.
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Upon arriving home, he was confronted by armed robbers less than two minutes after entering his property.
“A silver Mercedes-Benz pulled up at my gate. One of the male occupants sent a child to call my brother who then called me and said the men in the Merc were looking for me.”
As Williams approached the gate, one of the assailants pulled out a gun and threatened him.
“He pointed the gun at me and said they would kill me if I tried anything. The robber quickly unzipped my jacket, retrieving R40 000 from the left pocket and R20 000 from the right.”
“In addition to the cash, they also stole my wallet and cellphone and punctured the tyres of the car, which was parked in the yard, before driving away.”
Immediately after the robbery, Williams and his brother returned to the Standard Bank branch to report the incident.
“When we got there, we spoke to a staff member and called the teller who assisted me earlier.”
Williams described the teller’s reaction to the news of the robbery as “nervous and shaky”.
When he asked if she remembered him she said she didn’t.
Williams said he suspects bank employees may have been involved in arranging the robbery, given that they were the only ones who knew how much he withdrew, what he was wearing and where he concealed the money.
“I believe they were involved. They were the only ones who knew all these details.”
He expressed his disbelief that no warnings were given to customers about the high crime risk associated with large transactions at the branch.
“I want justice and to warn people to be more aware of this type of crime. I am still in disbelief and am living in fear. I don’t feel safe at all.”
The Advertiser approached both K90 Centre and Standard Bank and the Tsakane police station, where Williams opened a case, for comment. None was received at the time of publication.
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