Honeydew CPF shares tips on avoiding being robbed of your cash

It is very important for residents to avoid becoming victims of any crime, especially during the festive season. With this mind, the Honeydew Community Policing Forum (CPF) has shared some tips.

Tips for individuals to avoid becoming victims of cash robberies:

If you need to pay accounts, consider options that are lower risk instead of withdrawing large sums of cash.

• Carry as little cash as possible

• Consider the convenience of paying your accounts electronically (consult your bank to find out about other available options)

• Consider making use of cellphone banking, internet transfers or ATMs to do your banking

Tips for businesses to avoid becoming victims of cash robberies:

A small business which is cash-based and needs to deposit money on a regular basis at the bank should apply the following tips which will minimise the chances of them becoming victims of robberies.

• Alternate the days and times on which you deposit cash

• Never make your bank visits public, even to people close to you

• Do not openly display the money you are depositing while you are standing in the bank queue

• Avoid carrying money bags, briefcases or openly displaying your deposit receipt book

• It’s advisable to identify another branch nearby that you can visit to ensure that your banking pattern is not easily recognisable or detected

• If the amount of cash you are regularly depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company

• Refrain from giving wages to your contract or casual labourers in full view of the public; rather make use of wage accounts that can be provided by your bank

• Refrain from driving to the bank in your company branded vehicle on a typical ‘pay day’

• Consider arranging for electronic transfers of wages to your contract or casual labourers’ personal bank accounts

Tips for clubs and stokvels to avoid becoming victims of cash robberies:

If you are a member of a cash savings club, advise members of your club of the following.

• Refrain from making cash deposits of club members’ contributions on high-risk days (e.g. Monday after month end)

• 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 to each club member’s personal account or accounts of their choice