| 2024/12/21 |
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Media Statement POTCHEFSTROOM – Police in the North West Province are warning members of the community to be cautious when using their bank cards, especially during this Festive Season. This warning stems from incidents wherein two suspects, aged 52 and 56 respectively, were arrested in two different incidents in Potchefstroom. In the first incident, it is alleged that on Wednesday, 11 December 2024, a 55-year-old man attempted to withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at one of the malls in Potchefstroom. After inserting his card and pin, he reportedly did not receive the cash he was withdrawing. Moreover, the man cancelled the transaction and the card was returned, but he noticed it was not his bank card. A few moments thereafter, he got a notification that there was a cash withdrawal at a nearby filling station from his bank account. It was then that he blocked the bank card, went to the filling station and viewed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the culprits who withdrew the cash. Thereafter he reported the matter to the police. On Friday, 20 December 2024 at about 13:30, the complainant went again to another ATM to withdraw money. Whilst there, he noticed a man resembling the one he saw on the CCTV footage at the filling station and he shouted for help. The man tried to flee, but was cornered at the Taxi Rank. Police were called and the suspect was arrested and numerous bank cards were found hidden in his wallet. In a second unrelated incident, at about 13:00 on the same day, Potchefstroom Crime Prevention members were on patrol around town when they received a look-out for a suspicious Mini Cooper vehicle. The vehicle was spotted driving on the Dr James Moroka Avenue and members pulled it over. Upon conducting a search on the vehicle and the driver, police found numerous bank cards hidden in the driver’s underwear. The suspect failed to provide a satisfactorily account of the bank cards. As a result, he was also arrested on the spot and his vehicle confiscated. Furthermore, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is also on trial in Gauteng for the same offence. Both suspects are expected to appear before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 23 December 2024, on charges of possession of suspected stolen property. Further investigation is underway to determine if the suspects could be linked to other incidents of theft/cloning of bank cards within the Province. Ends
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