Robbers targeting small businesses

Police blockade the scene of an armed robbery shootout in Woodstock on 7 September 2012. Picture: Malungelo Booi/EWN
| 19 September 2012

CAPE TOWN - The South African Banking Risk Identification Centre (SABRIC) said on Tuesday organised groups are responsible for a rise in post-cash withdrawal robberies in the Western Cape.

SABRIC has confirmed at least 68 such incidents were reported between January and August this year.

Individual and business clients have lost about R3 million rand as a result.

SABRIC said syndicates designate people, known as spotters, to look out for business owners who are making cash withdrawals.

Once prospective victims have been indentified, information is passed on to other members of the group who are usually in the vicinity.

They then either rob the bank customer on the spot or after they have left the ATM.

SABRIC's Gregory Singh said, “These syndicates consist of males and females. They have spotter who keep an eye on business entities going to and from their places of business of residence.”

The majority of these crimes occur between nine and 10am, either on Mondays or Fridays.

High risk hot spots in the Western Cape include Bellville, Nyanga, Kuilsriver and Milnerton.

(Edited by Tamsin Wort)