Sharp drop in bank-following, ATM crimes
“I have spoken to the bank staff and they have confirmed that people are very careful with their money now,” said Rossouw.
A bank-following and ATM crimes awareness campaign was held at Chris Hani Crossing Mall on Friday, December 2.
The purpose of this campaign was to make the public aware of such crimes.
According to communications officer at Vosloorus Police Station, Capt Piet Rossouw, since they started with the campaigns in churches, public meetings and council meetings, these crimes have been decreased to zero.
“No cases have been reported on bank-following since October.
“I have spoken to the bank staff and they have confirmed that people are very careful with their money now,” said Rossouw.
Speaking on behalf of bank officials who attended the campaign, the specialist investigator in one of the banks, agreed with Rossouw.
“It is true. We had quite a number of crime reports between January and June. But since the campaigns started in June, there is zero bank-following and ATM crimes reported, especially since the arrest the SAPS made in October 3.
“I think it is because the bank staff members are now aware of how these criminals are operating. They are extra careful if they see someone acting strangely inside the bank.
“We as the banks will continue to work hand in hand with the police in solving these types of crimes. But we still need our clients to be very careful when withdrawing money from the ATMs or inside the banks,” said the specialist investigator, who wished to remain anonymous.
She thanked the SAPS, Community Policing Forum (CPF), patrollers as well as the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) for the successful campaigns and for making their clients aware of how these criminals operate.
According to Jerry Ramohapi of the CPF, they have defeated the bank-following and ATM crimes.
“I cannot say the crime has decreased. I can assure you that it has just stopped,” said Ramohapi.
