KOTA KINABALU: Police will hold bilateral discussions with all security guard companies in an effort to raise awareness and to find a holistic approach to prevent robbery in banking premises.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said that comprehensive measures would also be taken to ensure whether standard operating procedures (SOP) were being followed in addition to taking into account every aspect of working relationship between both parties to improve security in banking premises.
He said the matter was important following two incidents of robbers blowing up automated teller machines (ATMs) in banks in Membakut and Putatan within two months.
“We will call all security companies in the country to have a discussion and we hope through such discussions we can avoid any untoward incident from happening in the future,” he said after attending to prayers before breaking of fast with police officers at the Nur Islam Mosque at the State police headquarters in Kepayan on Tuesday.
Elaborating further on the robbery on June 24 where five masked men blew up two ATMs at CIMB Bank in Grand Plaza Putatan, Abdul Rashid said, the police were still investigating the case from all angles and tracking down the suspects.
“If we have any new lead, I will inform you but for now, we are still investigating the case. We also urge anyone with valuable information on the case to come forward to assist us,” he said.
Around 4.20am on June 24, five masked men equipped with sharp objects blew up two ATMs at CIMB Bank in Grand Plaza Putatan, before escaping with the money boxes reportedly containing RM254,550 in cash.
The suspects had also threatened the bank security guard with a weapon causing him to run for his life to the upper floor of the building.
The suspects then entered the bank and placed explosives on two ATMs before fleeing the scene in a white Perodua Myvi car.
Police have detained the security guard for investigation.
A month before the incident, three men escaped with RM70,000 cash after blowing up an ATM at a bank in Membakut township on May 11.
CCTV footage from the bank in Membakut township showed two masked men entering the bank around 1.50am and prising open the ATM before inserting a home-made bomb inside.
The suspects then lighted a fuse to blow open the ATM door before removing the money box and escaping in a waiting sport utility vehicle.
Police later found the empty money box abandoned some 20 metres from the bank.