Robbers devise new ways to attack bank customers
By Alex Olise
ARMED robbers have now devised new ways of attacking bank customers and making away with their money.
Unlike in the past when armed robbers were using guns and vehicles to raid banks, they now use motorcycles and the newly introduced helmets to trail bank customers after making large withdrawals.
The helmets, which were introduced across the country in January, are now being used by men of the underworld to disguise and wreak havoc on their victims.
With the helmet, it will be difficult for any one to identify the attacker even with the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) recently installed in some banks.
In the light of this development, top police officers have warned members of the public to be very cautious and always monitor any motorcycle that is parked on banks’ premises.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, recently paraded some robbery suspects who used motorcycles to attack their victims and robbed them of their money.
Two months ago, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Apapa, Mr. Mohammed Ali, led a team of policemen from the division to foil robbery at two new generation banks in Apapa.
In one of the incidents, one of the robbers, who used a motorcycle, was arrested and his colleagues fled.
The arrested suspect led the police team to their hideout at Layeni, Ajegunle area of Lagos.
On arrival at the hideout, a member of the robbery gang who sighted the police, fired at them and the police fired back. After the gun duel, five members of the robbery gang were shot dead and assorted weapons, including AK-47 rifles, were recovered.
Also, the introduction of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) has provided another opportunity for robbers. Most robbers now attack those withdrawing money in areas where there is no police presence like eateries and shopping malls.
A top security operative who spoke with The Guardian, advised those who operate such businesses to ensure that there is always police presence to protect customers who can just come in to withdraw money from an ATM.
The need for adequate security in areas where there are ATMs became very necessary as young boys and girls who roam around could be armed robbers.
Recently, a lady was forced at gunpoint in one of the eateries to withdraw all the money in her current account.
The armed robbers had threatened to kill if she failed to continue withdrawing as she used her ATM card. The woman continued to withdraw with her card until the machine gave an instruction that “you can no longer withdraw”.
The robbers, who carried out that operation, collected all the money and left the place on their motorcycle with their heads and faces covered with helmets to avoid identification.
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