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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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Features |  |
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New strategy to prevent bank robberies Crime Sunday by Jaympathy Jayasinghe To prevent robberies of banks in the future, a strategy has been mapped out by the Public Security Law and Order Ministry to enhance security features at private banks that often fall prey to robbers due to lax in security measures in them. A top level conference in this regard was held at the Public Security Law and Order Ministry presided over by its Secretary Tilak Ranavirajah along with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Fernando and the DIG Crimes and Intelligence, Jayantha Wickremaratne, other top Managers of various private banks. Also present at the discussions were officials from the Forest and Wild Life Departments. Secretary Tilak Ranavirajah brought to the notice of bank officials that most banks were vulnerable to robberies owing to poor quality of security being provided to these institutions. The ignorance on the part of bank officials in security matters whilst not making use of appropriate technology and poor planning have increased bank robberies in the past. He also appealed the banks not to request for additional firearms without improving infrastructure facilities like providing burglar alarm systems, Close Circuit Tele Visions etc. He pointed out the danger of firearms falling into the wrong hands that could be misused. It was learnt that several banks had requested for firearms for transportation of cash. DIG Crimes and Intelligence Jayantha Wickremaratne stressed the importance of screening security officers before being employed at banks. It was essential to screen the back ground of these individuals to determine whether they have been involved in criminal activity. It had been revealed that security officers had tipped off criminals by using cellular mobile phones on customers who call over at banks. There had been occasions when they had been robbed while leaving banks. DIG Wickremaratne said security officers should be given adequate training to handle firearms, setting up of bullet proof glasses at counters and Close Circuit Televisions in banks helps record the movements of customers and employees. Ninety percent of the banks robbed in the past fall into small category of banks with minimum security, he said. However the Police have had success in solving some of the major bank robberies staged during the past two years. The five suspects who robbed the Commercial Bank at Malabe and got away with Rs 1.6 million in 2002 had been apprehended. It was revealed that an ex-security officer was involved in the robbery. Meanwhile eight suspects who robbed Rs.5.6 million from the HSBC bank at Pellawatte Talangama too have been arrested. The banks that were robbed during the past two years include the Standard Chartered Bank at Soysapura- Moratuwa where robbers got away with Rs. 1.61 million. A woman employee who brought cash Rs. 5 lakhs to be deposited at the Peoples Bank at Kataragama was robbed by a man armed with a Galkatas. The Commercial Bank at Matara was robbed by two armed men last year and got away with Rs. 2.3 million. The Grandpas Police too are investigating robbery of cash Rs. 100,000 and pawned gold jewellery from Grandpass Rural Bank. |
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