Robberies at ATMs are common
“These guys are very slick, they will indeed swap your card and check and see that they take your PIN. If you do need assistance, approach the Help Desk at the bank for someone to assist you at an ATM.”
Centurion police have again warned residents to be on the look-out for ATM robberies.
This follows after a resident from Centurion was robbed of money when someone forced his so-called assistance upon him.
Herbert Lewis (75) said he wanted to draw cash at an ATM at a shopping centre on the corner of Frederick and Saxby streets, in Eldoraigne.
When Lewis could not insert his card into the machine an unknown man offered his help.
He convinced Lewis to allow him to insert the card before claiming the machine had “swallowed it”.
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Later Lewis discovered R5 000 had been withdrawn from his account.
Sergeant Divine Nkuna of Wierdabrug police, said this has been a trend for the longest of time. “Residents should not accept assistance at ATMs. This happens to old and young.”
Nkuna said residents should avoid utilising ATMs that were isolated from banks.
“And neither uitilise ATMs at night in dark areas that are not well lit, nor at malls where there is no security,” Lyttelton police spokesperson, Captain Dave Miller, said.
Miller said residents must make sure no one was hanging around when they used an ATM.
“These guys are very slick, they will indeed swap your card and see your PIN. If you do need assistance, approach the help desk in the bank for someone to assist you at an ATM.”
He said especially the elderly should not go to ATMs on their own. They must have somebody there with them who can watch and see if there is anybody approaching.
“Check the machine first, check the card slot, make sure there isn’t anything jammed in the card slot before you insert your card.”
Miller said if someone does insert their card and something isn’t right, and somebody does come up to them and attempt to assist, even if the person is dressed in a security or police uniform, refuse assistance.
“When you approach an ATM and someone is hanging around and you feel suspicious, rather get back into your car and drive to another ATM.”
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