Thugs grab sh1.3b from Stanbic Bank
Nov 05, 2007
THUGS on Saturday night broke into the Stanbic Bank branch in Bundibugyo town and took off with sh1.3b. The incident took place at 10:00pm on a rainy night, after two women offered drinks drugged with chloroform to the Police constables guarding the bank, according to the western regional Police com
By Emmanuel Kajubu
In Fort Portal
THUGS on Saturday night broke into the Stanbic Bank branch in Bundibugyo town and took off with sh1.3b. The incident took place at 10:00pm on a rainy night, after two women offered drinks drugged with chloroform to the Police constables guarding the bank, according to the western regional Police commander, Martin Abilu.
“Two women speaking luganda went to the bank and offered the policemen drinks, which were drugged. The policemen immediately dosed off,†said Abilu.
He said the women were suspected to be part of a larger group of thugs who travelled in two unidentified vehicles. He added that at the time of the robbery, the bank’s generator had been switched off.
Bundibugyo district is not connected to the national power grid.
Abilu said the stolen money was in denominations of sh50,000, sh10,000 and sh20,000. Residents reported seeing the thugs driving towards Fort Portal town at 3:00am after the robbery.
“We set up roadblocks after getting information that they drove towards Fort Portal but unfortunately we failed to intercept them,†Abilu said.
He said this was the first bank branch to be robbed of such a huge sum of money in the region. Bundibugyo is one of the leading cocoa growing areas in the country.
The Police suspect the bank staff was involved. “Someone who entered the bank knew where the keys of the safe were kept. We believe there was conspiracy among the staff at the bank,†Abilu said.
The thieves widened the metallic anti-burglar bars with the aid of a carjack, before breaking the glass windows, the Police said.
They then used two gas cylinders to cut into the strongroom, where the safe was kept and picked the keys from a nearby drawer.
Yesterday, the Police interrogated the branch manager, Hilda Musinguzi. Two tellers and two cleaners have since been arrested. The suspects were expected in court in the afternoon.
Abilu said at the time of the theft, the bank manager had travelled to Kampala. She left the keys of the safe with one of the arrested tellers.
Abilu blamed the Police constables for accepting food offers from strangers. He also cautioned bank managers to keep vital keys in secure places.
Stanbic Bank public relations officer Daniel Nsibambi yesterday said the Bundibugyo branch would be partially operational following the robbery.
“We are in the process of normalising our operations. The ATM (automated teller machines) is in full operation. We will resume offering full services tomorrow (Tuesday),†said Nsibambi.
In Fort Portal
THUGS on Saturday night broke into the Stanbic Bank branch in Bundibugyo town and took off with sh1.3b. The incident took place at 10:00pm on a rainy night, after two women offered drinks drugged with chloroform to the Police constables guarding the bank, according to the western regional Police commander, Martin Abilu.
“Two women speaking luganda went to the bank and offered the policemen drinks, which were drugged. The policemen immediately dosed off,†said Abilu.
He said the women were suspected to be part of a larger group of thugs who travelled in two unidentified vehicles. He added that at the time of the robbery, the bank’s generator had been switched off.
Bundibugyo district is not connected to the national power grid.
Abilu said the stolen money was in denominations of sh50,000, sh10,000 and sh20,000. Residents reported seeing the thugs driving towards Fort Portal town at 3:00am after the robbery.
“We set up roadblocks after getting information that they drove towards Fort Portal but unfortunately we failed to intercept them,†Abilu said.
He said this was the first bank branch to be robbed of such a huge sum of money in the region. Bundibugyo is one of the leading cocoa growing areas in the country.
The Police suspect the bank staff was involved. “Someone who entered the bank knew where the keys of the safe were kept. We believe there was conspiracy among the staff at the bank,†Abilu said.
The thieves widened the metallic anti-burglar bars with the aid of a carjack, before breaking the glass windows, the Police said.
They then used two gas cylinders to cut into the strongroom, where the safe was kept and picked the keys from a nearby drawer.
Yesterday, the Police interrogated the branch manager, Hilda Musinguzi. Two tellers and two cleaners have since been arrested. The suspects were expected in court in the afternoon.
Abilu said at the time of the theft, the bank manager had travelled to Kampala. She left the keys of the safe with one of the arrested tellers.
Abilu blamed the Police constables for accepting food offers from strangers. He also cautioned bank managers to keep vital keys in secure places.
Stanbic Bank public relations officer Daniel Nsibambi yesterday said the Bundibugyo branch would be partially operational following the robbery.
“We are in the process of normalising our operations. The ATM (automated teller machines) is in full operation. We will resume offering full services tomorrow (Tuesday),†said Nsibambi.