POLOKWANE – People who have just withdrawn cash from ATMs in the city have been targeted by criminals over the past few weeks and the police have warned residents to be on the lookout.
In one such incident, Grace du Preez said she had just withdrawn money from an ATM in Hans van Rensburg Street when she was robbed of her purse.
“I turned away from the ATM and bumped into a man on the pavement. He grabbed my purse out of my hand and ran. There was no way of catching him,” Du Preez said.
In another incident, a man withdrew money from an ATM inside a bank. He then drove to a shopping centre and left the money in his car. When he returned to his car, he found that a window had been broken and the money stolen.
Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala confirmed that both these incidents had been reported and were being investigated. He said the police urged residents to be vigilant when making use of ATM’s in the city. He said people should avoid withdrawing large amounts of money as far as possible, and rather make use of the electronic payment facilities that are offered by all banks. He said crimes such as personal robbery and theft out of motor vehicles should be reported to assist with investigations.
Phala provided the following tips to avoid becoming a victim:
• Always pay close attention to the ATM and your surroundings. Do not select an ATM at the corner of a building because corners can create a blind spot.
• Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Be wary of people trying to help you with ATM transactions.
• Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car nearby. When leaving an ATM make sure you are not being followed.
