Two armed security guards from a private firm are on the run after allegedly stealing an undisclosed amount of money from six Automated Teller Machines (ATMS) at Zanaco Bank in the Kitwe Central Business District.
Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Sharon Zulu said police are looking for the suspects identified as Carol Muluti and Munthali Chingi who were seen on the CCTV footage entering the two ATM points putting money in their laptop bags and a carton box on Sunday.
Ms. Zulu said the suspects locked the doors to the two ATM points and went away with the keys to the same doors.
She said Police visited the crime scene and observed that access to the ATMs was gained by virtue of the guards being employed through their security company to load the ATMs with cash.
“A case of theft by servant was reported at Kitwe Central police station, Occurred on the 14/08/22 between 19.40 hrs and 20.00 hrs at ZANACO Business Centre ATMs along Obote Avenue and /ZANACO Meat Market ATM opposite Anglican Church along Independence Avenue Town Center Kitwe. In which Male Hubert Tembo aged 39, of House No. 67 -18th Street Nkana East Kitwe, also a service manager at ZANACO bank Business Centre Kitwe reported that, (2) two armed Secure Security Guards who are authorized ATM custodians stole some undisclosed amount of money from six (6) Automated Teller Machines located at ZANACO Business center along Obote road and at Meat Market along Independence avenue Kitwe,” Ms. Zulu confirmed.
All the six ZANACO ATM points are currently not working until verification is done.
“Facts of the case are that, on 14/08/22, the two security guards identified as female Carol Muluti other details not yet given and male Munthali Chingi whose details are yet to be given was seen on the CCTV footage entering the two ATM points putting money in their laptop bags and a carton box. They locked the doors to the 2 ATM points and went away with the keys to the same doors. The scene of crime was visited and it was observed that, Access was gained by virtue of them (guards) being employed (through their security company) to load the ATMs with cash. Currently, all the six ZANACO ATM points are not working until verification is done and the two are on the run though investigations into the matter have been launched and a Docket of case opened,” Ms. Zulu said.
A sign of poor leadership in the country which is translating into violence and robbery. Weak president
A sign of poor Ieadership in the c0untry which is transIating into vi0lence and r0bbery. Weak presldent
Very weak security systems for a mere security guard who transports money to come back on Sunday and empty the ATMs..really laughable..the insurance companies are sleeping as well. One thing these guards don’t know is the money is serial numbers are probably recorded so they are leaving a trail where they are spending big.
It’s becoming a common trend now in Kitwe for guards to steal bank money from ATMs. Not so long ago another group stole hundreds of thousands of Kwacha from Standard Chartered Bank. I think the weakness is with insurance companies. These funds are insured. What the bank will do is to get a Police report and submit a claim from the insurer. The Police report will have 2 notorious but common expressions of “no money recovered and suspects still at large”. If insurance can pursue these criminals till they’re caught no one will dare steal that money. But in Zambia very few things work. Some within the system might even defend the thieves. We have become a society of hypocrites. How can 2 people be left alone with such amounts of money?
How can the custodian of the custodians say “UNDISCLOSED” amount of money has been stolen!; arrest that one too! for poor accountability, such definitely knows how much money is deposited at every moment at the end of close of business or upon depletion of initial feed of money into ATMS Vaults – ATMS are automatic detectors and send signal when there is no more money in vaults, so why deposit more money when there is still money in the vaults? and at an awkward hour! by 2 custodians 1 who is presumably a woman! where was the male backup for the female/s! for they can definitey not ward off male criminals if such were per adventure to attack the frail female custodian/s, who authorised the issuance of the keys to the ATMS?!; when money is withdrawn at Atms by customers that too such…
How and where are they going to hide? Excercise in futility. Most of the security companies don’t care to check the background of the people they employ… that’s a big problem.
They learnt from Pamela gondwe. If she can go with all that cash from an ATM and still roaming free after all these years then what is to say they cannot do the same?
MWABOMBENI!!
Criminality is on the increase!!!!!! Why???
ubomba mwibala alya mwibala