Parktown FNB robbed of millions
PARKTOWN – FNB has been robbed of R1.7 million.
UPDATE: 12.30pm, 4 Jan, 2017
The Hawks National Bureau of Illegal Firearm Control and Priority Violent Claims received a complaint on 3 January from FNB Parktown of a business robbery. Upon their arrival, they found that two bank vaults had been broken into. “Four suspects gained entry to the bank by drilling [through] the bank wall. They made off with R1.7 million in cash and valuables,” explained spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Ndivuho Molamu.
Molamu said 30 safety deposit boxes were emptied in the process. The incident took place on New Year’s Eve.
This is not the first time FNB has been hit. In December, its Randburg branch faced the same type of robbery where over 250 safety deposit boxes were taken.
“We can’t overlook the fact that the two incidents maybe linked; however, we will be investigating each case on merit and individually. Camera footage from the Parktown robbery will be provided by the bank and investigators will act upon those, so the perpetrators can be brought to book.
FNB can confirm that a burglary incident occurred at its Parktown branch corner St Andrew’s and St David’s Place.
“We further confirm that impacted FNB customers will be notified individually via the contact details supplied to the bank, once the relevant law enforcement authorities have completed their preliminary investigation,” said Lee-Anne van Zyl, CEO of FNB Points of Presence.
FNB assures its customers that it is giving the matter utmost priority and will leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of this criminal act. Van Zyl said they are deploying additional resources to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement authorities on the investigation.
Due to the police investigation currently underway, she was unable to provide further details on the issue.
FNB’s Parktown branch remains closed until further notice.
No arrests have been made yet in both incidents; however, Molamu said the external and internal forensics will be working hand in glove to investigate the incidents.
Original report: 10am, 4 Jan, 2017
It has been reported that the FNB Parktown branch has been robbed of R1.7 million and 30 safety deposit boxes emptied in the process.
The incident took place on New Year’s Eve. It is believed that a group of four people drilled into two vaults at the bank’s Parktown branch.
This is not the first time FNB has been hit. In December last year its Randburg branch faced the same kind of robbery where over 250 safety deposit boxes were stolen.
Spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Ndivuho Molamu explained that at this stage the Hawks cannot rule out the possibility that the two cases may be linked as the same modus operandi was used in both incidents.
No arrests have been made.
