BY ANIKA GUMBS-SANDIFORD

With immediate effect, Scotiabank will be implementing new security measures to avoid a repeat of Monday’s incidents, where two customers were robbed while on their way to deposit money in the bank.

The women were robbed of $70,000 in two separate incidents at the Couva and Penal branches of the bank.

No one has been arrested.

In a release yesterday, managing director Richard Young confirmed the incidents, but assured that the bank had the highest standards and was taking immediate and appropriate action to ensure the safety of customers and employees.

Young urged members of the public to exercise vigilance when conducting transactions at the bank.

To avoid a recurrence of such incidents, Young stated that people should not establish a routine when making deposits at the bank and need to be on the alert when exiting their vehicles and heading to the bank.

In addition, Young said people needed to pay close attention to their surroundings and to become aware of changes in the environment, especially where crime seemed to be escalating.

However, Young added that if such incidents were to arise, people must learn how to stay calm because panicking might result in individuals acting foolishly or irrationally.

Investigators yesterday told Guardian they had established “several leads” in the matter and an arrest would be made soon.

Poultry owner Chamdajaye Maharaj, of Basta Hall, Couva, was about to enter the Couva branch of the bank around 8.30 am, when a man ran up to her and snatched a bag containing $52,00 in cash and cheques.

The man escaped on foot.

Two hours later, an employee of MS Food City, Debe, was entering the Penal branch of the bank, when a man ran up behind her, smashed a bottle on her head and grabbed a bag containing $18,000 in cash and cheques.