Robbery after bank withdrawal

A PORT Elizabeth businessman was forced to flee for his life when robbers shot at him after he withdrew money from Standard Bank in Pickering Street, Newton Park.

The 49-year-old grandfather, who only gave his first name as Michael, said two men followed him to his friend’s house in Gelvandale from the bank on Saturday.

“I was going to put the money in the boot of my car. When the men came running towards me with their guns, I thought I was going to die,” he said.

Michael threw the bag containing R22 000 on to his friend’s veranda and ran down the street.

He said one thief went for the money while the second man gave chase.

“These men looked determined. They were going to shoot me and not mess around.

“When I returned to my car a [bullet casing] was lying on the ground next to where I was standing.”

He said he was robbed less than 30 minutes after withdrawing staff wages at the bank. “These guys in a VW Polo tracked me down from the bank.”

Before Michael left the bank, he said the teller warned him to be careful.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the police were investigating a case of robbery with a firearm and attempted murder.

“People withdrawing large sums of money are a big concern to us,” she said.

Janse van Rensburg urged people to rather use internet banking.“Some people withdraw R20 000 to buy a car. What they must do is to rather get a bank-guaranteed cheque for this transaction.”

Michael said: “When I mentioned to people what happened, they said other business people were also robbed after withdrawing money from that bank.”

Two men were arrested after a botched armed robbery of a father and son who withdrew money at Standard Bank in Pickering Street last month.