A contractor, who withdrew cash from a bank to disburse salary to his employees, was allegedly robbed on Kilpauk Garden Road here on Tuesday.
According to police sources, R. Radhakrishnan (45) drew Rs. 1.5 lakh from a nationalised bank and was waiting for his car outside when a suspect who came on a motorcycle snatched his bag containing the cash and sped away.
Investigators perused video footage recorded by the closed circuit television (CCTV) network and zeroed in on a youth who was identified by Radhakrishnan as the suspect.
“He is seen sitting in the bank keeping a watch on customers. We have formed a special team to apprehend the accused. Preliminary enquiries revealed that the suspect did not have an account in the branch. There was no armed guard or private security at the bank when the incident took place,” a police official said.
Another case
In a similar case on Tuesday, a woman, who drew Rs. 1.4 lakh from a nationalised bank at Trustpuram, was allegedly robbed by motorcycle-borne youths. Police said S. Savithri (46) of Vanniyar Street in Kodambakkam was returning home from the bank when the accused snatched her cash bag on the Puliyur main road and escaped.
The woman told police that she had seen the suspects while drawing money in the bank.
The Kodambakkam police are investigating.
Ensuring basic security measures
Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran said a meeting of all heads of banks would be soon held to ensure that basic security measures such as CCTV network and deployment of guards are in place.
“The State Bank of India has installed CCTV in all its branches in Chennai. We are taking up the issue with other banks. Surveillance camera should also cover the frontage of bank buildings,” Mr. Rajendran said.