Use these tips to avoid becoming a cash robbery victim

Between last year and this year, common robberies have decreased by 3.8 per cent. These common crimes come in many forms, including cash robberies.

In an effort to assist the public, savings clubs and businesses with dealing with potential cash robberies, The South African Police Service has provided the following tips:

 Tips for individuals:

• Try carry as little cash on you as possible
• Familiarise yourself with cellphone and internet banking
• When paying accounts, consider using lower risk payment options such as debit orders and electronic funds transfer instead of withdrawing large sums of money.

Tips for businesses:

• Businesses that need to deposit money on a regular basis must alternate the days and times they do this
• Be discreet with your banking methods, details and routines
• Whoever is depositing the money should not make the money visible, even when they are inside the bank
• Avoid carrying money bags, briefcases or openly displaying your deposit receipt book
• Use more than one bank branch, if possible
• If the amount of cash you are regularly depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company
• Consider electronic transfers of wages to your contract or casual labourers and help your staff create bank accounts
• Refrain from driving to the bank in your company branded vehicle on a typical pay day.

Tips for saving clubs:

• Ensure persons depositing club cash contributions or making withdrawals are accompanied by another club member
• A stokvel, savings club or burial society can arrange for members to deposit cash directly into the club’s account instead of collecting cash contributions
• Arrange for the club’s payout to be electronically transferred into each club member’s personal account or accounts of their choice.