A woman was robbed at gunpoint after she had drawn a substantial amount of money from a bank at Clearwater Mall.
The 38-year-old woman left the mall after drawing her money at about 12.10pm on 2 September, when she saw a charcoal/grey BMW vehicle in front of her own.
Hey @StandardBankZA, someone in your Clearwater Branch tipped criminals about a lady who withdrew R300k. Followed by criminals and robbed
— ???? Free ???? (@tshepo87) September 2, 2016
This BMW with three male occupants braked in front of her, on the corner of Sovereign Road and Munstuk Avenue in Wilgeheuwel. According to Honeydew SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs, “She also braked and the three occupants jumped out of their vehicle running to her vehicle.”
One of the suspects pointed a firearm at the victim and instructed to hand over the money.
The suspects fled the scene in their vehicle with the money and the complainant’s vehicle’s keys.
A case of armed robbery has been opened at the Honeydew SAPS.
TIPS TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF CASH ROBBERIES FOR INDIVIDUALS
If you need to pay accounts, consider options that are lower risk instead of withdrawing large sums of cash.
Apply the following TIPS to avoid being a victim:
- Carry as little cash as possible
- Consider the convenience of paying your accounts electronically (consult your bank to find out about other available options)
- Consider making use of cell phone banking or internet transfers or ATMs to do your banking
TIPS TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF CASH ROBBERIES FOR BUSINESSES
A small business which is cash based and needs to deposit money on a regular basis at the bank should apply the following TIPS which will minimize the chances of you being a victim of robberies:
- 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’s advisable to identify another branch nearby that you can visit to ensure that your banking pattern is not easily recognisable or detected
- If the amount of cash you are regularly depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company
- Refrain from giving wages to your contract or casual labourers in full view of the public rather make use of wage accounts that can be provided by your bank
- Refrain from driving to the bank in your company branded vehicle on a typical ‘pay day’
- Consider arranging for electronic transfers of wages to your contract or casual labourers’ personal bank accounts
