Police Tell Bank Clients
to Watch out for Robbers

The awareness campaign launched by the police targeting bank clients about thefts has received a good response from local banks and their clients, police claimed in a press release on Saturday.

Robbing of bank customers dropped from 11 cases in March to seven in the next three months of April, May and June, officials said.

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Lt-Col Ibrahim Al Hanaai, Head of the Organised Crime Section in Abu Dhabi Police, said, “In June, only two cases were registered. The campaign is part of the police's security strategy. Negligence of the clients is one of the main reasons for these thefts,” he said.

The official cited a recent example of a UAE national who was robbed of Dh2.5 million.

The man had withdrawn the money from a bank and kept opening and closing the envelope in the open.

“When he reached his car, he saw an Asian lying under his car puncturing his tyre. As he protested, another Asian advised him to approach the nearest tyre shop.

“On returning to the car, the man found the envelope missing. The client should have transferred the money to his personal account or transported it through a security company. This is a case of negligence,” Hanaai said.

He added that the police have issued brochures in Arabic, English and Urdu in coordination with the Central Bank to educate bank clients about the dos and don'ts.

''We have also coordinated with banks to send these tips to clients through SMS and flash them on ATM screens,'' he said.

Senior bank officials said that the awareness campaign of the police has helped.

Ali Musa, director-general, Mashreq Bank, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, said, “Coordination with the police in raising awareness among clients has achieved several positive results. The drive has created a better sense of security among our clients. Our tellers always remind the clients withdrawing large amounts of cash of the measures they should follow to guard against theft,'' Musa added.

Waheed Khalil, branch manager and head of Local Banking Operations,

National Bank of Abu Dhabi, hailed the efforts being made by the police.

''The initiative has evoked a positive response from our clients,'' he said.

Maher Mohammed Yusouf, Deputy Director of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Najda Street branch, said, “ADIB is among the first banks which advised their clients to change their PINs upon using cards when withdrawing cash from ATMs. To protect its clients from any piracy or theft, ADIB has installed round-the-clock surveillance cameras at ATMs,'' he added.

Bank clients have lauded the police's efforts to protect them from piracy and fraud. Isa Al Shamlan, manager of Adnoc's Technical Test, praised the security awareness drive. He said he was impressed by the SMS alerts. Ali Ahmed Taha, an employee, said such campaigns should be held frequently.

ahmed@khaleejtimes.com