Police warn: take care when drawing money over the Easter long weekend

Captain Mbense suggested that, where possible, people should avoid withdrawing large sums of money from ATMs.

April 13, 2017

1 minute read

Sanele Shongwe (far left) and Wandile Sithole (far right) who apprehended a man who stole a bank card from a teenager are seen with their colleagues. Nompilo Madela and Ntando Madiba of Sizowakhe Security.

Two alert off-duty security guards chased and apprehended a man who had attempted to scam a teenager out of his money at the ABSA ATM on Victoria Street.
Sanele Shongwe and Wandile Sithole of Siyawakhe Security were in the vicinity of ABSA Bank at around 11am last Friday when they noticed an older man taking ‘particular close attention’ to a teenage boy who was drawing money from an ATM.
They proceeded towards the entrance to the bank but noticed that the man was now right next to the teenager and was ‘fiddling on the ATM keyboard’ as if he was assisting him to use the machine.
It was then that the man suddenly ran off and Sanele decided to give chase. Wandile stayed behind to ask the teenager what was going on. He said he was puzzled as his bankcard had ‘disappeared’.

Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Do not allow anyone to assist you at an ATM .Police will increase their patrols in all residential areas, particularly after sunset.

Realising the boy had been scammed, Wandile joined the chase.
The man was caught on the corner of King Edward and Victoria Streets. The bank card was also recovered. The suspect was taken back to the bank where the manager called the police who later took the suspect away.
While thanking the two guards, Dundee SAPS Communication Officer, Captain V Mbense, warned residents that criminals use Easter to ‘prey on people, robbing them of their money by using ATM and cheque fraud scams’.
“Sadly, crime increases over holidays like Easter. Please be careful. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Do not allow anyone to assist you at an ATM.” He said police will increase their patrols in all residential areas, particularly after sunset.
In another incident, an elderly woman went to an ATM to withdraw R2 500 and was followed by two men to Shoprite, where the woman was robbed.
Captain Mbense suggested that, where possible, people should avoid withdrawing large sums of money from ATMs.