On May 5 three suspects robbed the Standard Bank in the central business district, of an undisclosed amount of money.
“The three men walked into the bank posing as high ranking police officers at about 08:30, they were the first to enter the business and requested to speak to the branch manager regarding a banking issue,” said Capt Eddie Hall, Witbank Police Communications Liaison.
According to police, two of the suspects were armed with handguns, the third was unarmed.
One of the armed suspects allegedly held the cashiers at gunpoint while the other walked through demanding that all the panic buttons, safe keys and remotes be handed over. The suspect then walked over to the main safe and opened it.
The three suspects cleared the safe of its monetary contents.
The armed robbery was over within 15 minutes as the suspects left the bank at about 08:45. They got into a white Volkswagen Golf GTI and made their escape. Witnesses say that the Golf had Mpumalanga registration plates.
Langamed Emergency Management Services’ paramedics arrived on scene and began tending to the personnel who had suffered from shock due to the ordeal of being held at gunpoint.
One of the staff held onto a tissue as she wept, her colleague said to the paramedics “Take care of my staff,” the paramedic smiled and replied “Don’t worry ma’am we will.”
According to police no shots were fired, and five of the personnel received medical attention.
Police have received clear video footage of the three suspects, which will assist in the investigation.
“We can confirm the incident did take place, fortunately it was before trading hours and no clientele were affected. We are assisting the police with investigations and can not comment further due to the pending investigation,” said Mr Ross Linstroom, Standard Bank Communications Liaison.
The police request that anyone with information regarding the robbery please come forward and contact Lt Col P.G. Maahlo on
082 648 4631, alternatively contact the Witbank Police on 013 655 5052 or the crime stop number 08 600 10111.
According to police records, over the past month a total of 14 armed robberies have taken place, as well as eight business robberies, there were also two cash in transit incidents whereby one was an attempted robbery.
“This raises concerns, that these robberies are taking place with ease, we urge the businesses to sharpen up their security,” ended Capt Hall.
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