The Vosloorus SAPS, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) representatives, bank managers and Chris Hani Shopping Centre management gathered at the Vosloorus SAPS Barracks Hall on Wednesday, January 18, to discuss bank-following and ATM crimes.
This was a continuation of a successful project that was launched in June 2016 and continued until December last year.
The communications officer at Vosloorus Police Station, Capt Piet Rossouw, said, “A lot positive ideas were discussed by all role players during this meeting. At the same time they analysed last year’s projects and they were regarded as a huge success.
“During this meeting it was also requested to extend the project for the next six months or for the whole of 2017.”
Rossouw also said that there are people who do not listen.
“We as the police and other stakeholders have done all we can to make the community aware of the crime, but there are still people who fall victim to bank-following and ATM crime.
“We have even offered to escort anyone who needs to withdraw a lot of money. But people don’t utilise the help we are offering. For example, three cases were reported to the police station this year. Two victims were robbed of R10 000 each in different incidents and the other victim was robbed of R20 000. Sadly, one of the victims who was robbed of R10 000 is a pensioner.
“Because of such cases, a decision to continue with the campaign for the next six months was taken. If there is a need, it will continue for the whole of 2017,” concluded Rossow.
