The festive season is around the corner and while you are looking to relax and enjoy spending your hard-earned money, criminals are also planning to steal it, the Randfontein Police warned.
“Many of us belong to groups/ social clubs where we have saved money for the festive season. We urge the public to take charge of their safety and not fall prey to criminals during this festive season,” said Constable Carmen Hendricks, Randfontein Police spokesperson.
Tips to avoid being a victim of cash robberies for individuals:
• Carry as little cash as possible
• Consider the convenience of paying accounts electronically
• Consider making use of cellphone banking or the internet
Tips to avoid being a victim of cash robberies for businesses:
• Alternate the days and times on which you deposit cash
• Never make your bank visits public, even to people close to you
• Do not openly display the money you are depositing while you are standing in the bank queue
• Avoid carrying money bags, briefcases or openly displaying your deposit receipt book
• It is advisable to identify another branch nearby where you can bank so that your banking pattern is not easily recognised or detected
• If the amount of cash you are depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company
• Refrain from giving wages to contract or casual labourers in full view of others; rather use wage accounts that can be provided by your bank
• Refrain from driving to the bank in your company-branded vehicle on a typical payday
• Consider electronically transferring wages to your contract or casual workers’ personal accounts
Tips to avoid being a victim of cash robberies for savings clubs and stokvels:
• Refrain from depositing cash of club members’ contributions on high-risk days (e.g Monday after month-end or weekends)
• Ensure that persons depositing club cash contributions or making withdrawals are accompanied by another club member
• A stokvel, saving club or burial society can arrange for members to deposit cash directly into the club’s account instead of collecting cash contributions
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
