Revealed: Most dangerous time to withdraw cash from banks

Lt Colonel Nasser Suleiman Al Maskari, Head of the Operations Department at the General Directorate of Central Operations, the Abu Dhabi Police Operations Room has warned bank customers against surprise thefts; noting that unprotected money attracts weak-minded people. He also stressed the need to maintain their safety and protect their money by following the police instructions.

Lt Colonel Al Maskari has observed multiple professional plans to rob bank customers after they have finished their financial transactions, through a well-advised analytical study.

Elaborating, Lt Colonel Al Maskari pointed out that security surveillance camera operators have recently noticed a number of sequential events followed by opportunistic bank thieves to take unsuspecting bank customers by surprise and flee the scene to unknown destinations.

He said, “Thieves lie in wait and observe their victims upon leaving the bank until they get into their car. At this point, the thief’s accomplice would knock on the car window pointing out a fake flaw in the car, from an oil leak to a flat tire, prompting the driver to exit their vehicle to examine the damage.

“This gives the suspect a window of opportunity to seize the cash or the handbag from the passenger seat inside the vehicle and to flee the scene quietly.”

Furthermore, Lt Colonel Al Maskari urged community members to take immediate note of the police’s instructions and advice regarding the monitored methods observed by the police and to be vigilant to maintain their own safety and to preserve their money against theft.

He stressed the importance   of community members’ cooperation with police efforts in order to provide the best means of prevention and protection.

He also urged community members not to hesitate to report any suspicious activities they may encounter while they are near banks, near ATM machines, or if they notice that they are being followed.

Lt Colonel Al Maskari noted that the study provided examples of the different methods used in thefts; the thieves’ features; plausible times for thefts, planning methods and task distribution between thieves; as well as escape plans and means.

He explained that the operations room has monitored and analysed these results in light of the different notifications they recently received, and what has been observed through surveillance cameras.

Adding further, he said, “According to the study, the gang members are a group of at least 3 young men, of Asian features, aged between 25 and 35 years, and wearing shirts and pants. They usually carry out their robberies between 11.30am and 1.30pm.”

"According to the study, the gang members distribute tasks among them based on an elaborate plan to carry out their thefts. The gang is generally made up of three members (the accomplice or deceiver, the main thief and the spotter who keeps watch).

"The ‘deceiver’ knocks on the vehicle’s window, while the ‘thief’ opens the vehicle’s door and snatches the money after the victim steps out of the car.

“The ‘spotter’ pretends to speak on the mobile phone while keeping a lookout from afar. They all walk in one direction towards the nearest alley behind nearby buildings to avoid security cameras.

“They avoid using any transportation mean, but sometimes use a bicycle to prowl around banks and choose their victims,” he continued.

The Head of the Operations Department at Abu Dhabi Police also noted that according to the analytical study, there is a possible mutual coordination between the gang and other individuals who prowl at the targeted banks.

Lt Colonel Al Maskari referred to a previous robbery during which the gang members were lying in wait in front of a bank at the Corniche Road, when they suddenly headed on foot to another bank located on Hamdan Street.

"This proves that the gang members received information by phone about a bank customer leaving the bank while carrying cash. It also shows prior and professional plans to target bank clients," he stated.

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