In the past several weeks, the Boksburg police have been receiving a number of complaints, whereby people were being robbed of their money, while walking either from ATMs or bank counters.
Lieut Mathanda Ngobese, spokesperson for the Boksburg SAPS, confirmed that they have seen an increase in robberies involving bank clients withdrawing large amounts of money.
It is believed that the perpetrators of the crime operate in groups with some members acting as “spotters”, who stand in bank queues and monitor people making cash withdrawals.
Once they had identified their victims, they pass on the information to the other members who carry out the robbery.
In one of the recent robberies, an elderly man fell prey to a well-dressed and presentable robber, who eventually made of with the victim’s R50 000 of his pension money.
This suspect approached the victim and convinced him that he was an employment agent and he was looking for a delivery driver.
He then told the unsuspecting “mkhulu” that he was the preferred candidate for the job, and he would get a salary of R5 000 per week.
The victim was so convinced, that he even agreed to drive in the robbers’ vehicle to Johannesburg, where according to the robber, the victim was supposed to be appointed for the job.
When arriving in Johannesburg, the suspect told the victim that he has to open a bank account so that his salary could be paid into it.
However, in order to qualify for the job, the victim needed to have at least R50 000 balance in his bank account.
The victim complied and he withdrew R50 000.
They then drove to a nearby bank, and while the victim was inside, leaving his money in the vehicle, the suspect seized the opportunity and fled with the R50 000.
The police has also revealed another modus operandi used by criminals.
This involves dropping a bag full of fake money on the ground, in front of the targeted victim, who had already withdrawn a large sum of their own money.
When the victim tries to pick the “manna from heaven”, one of the members of the crime synidicate would also, at the same time, try to grab the bag.
The suspect, normally a woman, would then convince the unsuspecting victim to share the money but they needed to go to a secluded place so that they will not be spotted by the SAPS.
Once they were away from the public, a group of robbers, who pose as police officers, would arrive and order both the victim and the other member of the syndicate to get into a vehicle, telling them that they were under arrests for robbery and possession of suspected stolen money.
They would then be driven to a secluded place, where the victim would be robbed.
Following the spate of robberies throughout the city of Boksburg, police warn bank users to avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash.
“Residents should be careful when withdrawing large sums of money either from ATMs or bank counters, because it might put their lives at risk,” says Ngobese.
“It is also advisable for bank users to change their banking pattern.”
