Windhoek bank robbed in broad daylight

THREE armed men robbed the Klein Windhoek branch of Standard Bank during broad daylight on Friday.

The robbery took place at around 14h30 in the bank situated inside the /Ae //Gams Mall, surrounded by several other business premises on one of Windhoek’s busiest roads. According to one client who requested anonymity, he had just finished depositing money at the bank when the three robbers entered and ordered everyone to lie down on the floor.The witnesses to the crime consisted of six clients and two bank employees, the source said.The robbers then filled two bags they had brought with them with money from the teller’s counter.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu confirmed the incident yesterday, adding that the robbers made off with N$197 356 in cash.He said that the sole security guard inside the bank was apparently unarmed.No one was injured during the robbery, he said.While the Police’s quick response to the robbery received praise yesterday, the source who spoke to The Namibian said he was planning on taking legal action against the bank for putting his life in danger.”I’m actually suing the bank.The security doors at that bank weren’t functioning, and neither were the security cameras,” he said.He added that the robbers’ timing seemed to have been off by a few minutes, “because (cash-in-transit company) Fidelity had just left when they came.They were actually a bit unlucky.”The robbers apparently made their way out of the bank through the alley linking up with Sam Nujoma Drive, where they disappeared into the traffic.”Somebody must have been waiting for them.It seems nobody even saw them,” the source said.Standard Bank spokesperson Carin De Klerk, when contacted for comment, said the bank would issue a statement on the matter shortly.According to one client who requested anonymity, he had just finished depositing money at the bank when the three robbers entered and ordered everyone to lie down on the floor.The witnesses to the crime consisted of six clients and two bank employees, the source said.The robbers then filled two bags they had brought with them with money from the teller’s counter.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu confirmed the incident yesterday, adding that the robbers made off with N$197 356 in cash.He said that the sole security guard inside the bank was apparently unarmed.No one was injured during the robbery, he said.While the Police’s quick response to the robbery received praise yesterday, the source who spoke to The Namibian said he was planning on taking legal action against the bank for putting his life in danger.”I’m actually suing the bank.The security doors at that bank weren’t functioning, and neither were the security cameras,” he said. He added that the robbers’ timing seemed to have been off by a few minutes, “because (cash-in-transit company) Fidelity had just left when they came.They were actually a bit unlucky.”The robbers apparently made their way out of the bank through the alley linking up with Sam Nujoma Drive, where they disappeared into the traffic.”Somebody must have been waiting for them.It seems nobody even saw them,” the source said.Standard Bank spokesperson Carin De Klerk, when contacted for comment, said the bank would issue a statement on the matter shortly.