Clients robbed from banks, ATM booths

With gun-wielding security guards, CCTV cameras, and queues of clients that are a constant fixture in many banking halls, it is difficult to imagine any kind of crime taking place.
This is what Kirungi Kizza took for granted as he stood at a counter, filling in a deposit slip for Shs1m.

“A man entered the hall and walked directly to me. He asked where he could change his dollars from and I pointed to the bank manager’s office. I filled the slip and joined the queue.”
Kizza had forgotten about the man with the dollars until another man standing behind him tapped his shoulder, suggesting that they offer a helping hand.

“I looked up and saw that the man had left the manager’s office and was standing in the middle of the banking hall, looking confused. At first, I refused to help, but the man standing behind me persisted that we help him find a bank with fairer dollar rates.”
The three men stepped out of the bank and boarded a taxi to another bank. But first, they sat in a restaurant to have tea.

Easy pickings for con men
According to the standard rules that govern a client’s conduct in a bank, the first mistake Kizza made was to allow himself to become distracted from his mission – banking his earnings.

Edward Kittengo, a banker with seven years’ experience, says once in the banking hall, one should not accept or give help to a stranger.
“Only an employee of the bank is authorised to help anyone in need.

Bank employees either have identification cards worn on tags around their necks or wear branded shirts. There are also clearly marked customer care desks. The first question you should ask yourself is; ‘Why would someone want to help me in a bank? Or why should someone come to me for help, out of the many who are in the queue?’”
Kittengo maintains that to be on the safer side, only hand over your money to a bank teller after counting it.

“Even the security guards in the banking halls are not supposed to provide banking advice to a client. Also, do not leave the counter without counting your money.

The robbery

Of course, once outside the bank, Kizza was at the mercy of the two conmen.
“Both men said I should count the dollars – which looked genuine – before I walked to the bank to change them. I did not stop to wonder why I should be the one to change the money. I returned the money to him and he put it in an envelope.”

Kizza is not sure how the switch was made, but as he was about to enter the bank, he checked the envelope and found it full of papers. At the restaurant, the men had vanished.
“When I checked my pockets, they were empty. Those men had also robbed my earnings.”

Theft at ATM machines
Leila Nassolo, after withdrawing Shs200,000 from the ATM, was hurriedly exiting the booth because she sensed there was another client waiting impatiently outside. It was 9pm.

“When I got out, there was only one man outside. The security guard was sitting a distance away from the machine. The man entered the booth but called after me almost immediately, telling me I had forgotten my ATM card in the machine.”

Inside the booth, the man drew a knife and ordered her to insert her card and withdraw money. He threatened to stab her if she screamed.
“I gave him the Shs600,000 I had left on the account. When I returned the next day to the bank, the man I described could not be recognised on the CCTV footage. I think he had robbed others before me and knew how to avoid looking into the camera.”
Kittengo says although there are control measures in place at the ATM machine, such as cameras, when it comes to safety, the initiative is on the customer.

“When issuing ATM cards, the client is cautioned about safety. For instance, do not give your card to anyone else. If the place is deserted at night, why go to the ATM? Instead, plan your day so that you withdraw money in advance. Do not leave the ATM while counting your money.”

At the ATM it is unwise to accept help from strangers. If it is absolutely necessary, take note that the card the stranger gives back to you has your name on it.

following up on a robbery

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Patrick Onyango advises victims to report the case to the nearest police station.

“An investigation officer will write officially to the bank requesting for the CCTV footage. The officer will then write a report about the findings and advise the client on the next step. Independently, the bank employee in-charge of the CCTV must also write a report about his or her findings and submit it to the police.” However, Kizza says when he reported to the bank, with the aim of retrieving the CCTV footage, the bank refused to release it. He later reported to the police but the bank has not yet released the footage.

“That is not possible,” Onyango says, adding, “Besides, as police, we have a good working relationship with banks. They always cooperate with us.”
As a precaution, instead of trying to investigate your robbery, report the matter to the police.

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