Cyprus-Forum.com

[SSBubbles]

By Bejay Browne

THERE have been calls for a higher police presence in the Paphos village of Chlorakas after being hit by the third bank robbery in less than nine months, with a local officer saying hard times would bring more heist attempts.

A Syrian man has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of the Hellenic Bank branch in Chlorakas on Monday morning. No one was hurt.

The 27-year-old man appeared in Paphos court and requested the court appoint him a lawyer. He will reappear with representation, to be given the details of his remand order this morning.

The suspect is one of three men police were searching for in connection with a €30,000 haul. An arrest warrant has been issued for a Greek national, who is the registered owner of the white saloon car the thieves used to make their escape.

Police received information that the robbers had abandoned the vehicle outside the St. Stefanos School in Lemba, in favour of a red Toyota Corolla, which was later pulled over by a policeman.

But when the officer attempted to apprehend the men, one of the Syrians bit him on the hand and the duo made their escape.

This incident occurred before the arrest of one of the suspects yesterday morning. He remained in police custody pending his court appearance. Meanwhile, extensive forensic examinations of the Toyota are under way.

The Paphos village of Chlorakas seen three bank robberies in less than nine months. The Bank of Cyprus, the Laiki bank and now the Chlorakas branch of the Hellenic bank have all been robbed. The bank of Cyprus has been targeted four times over the last decade. This raises the question as to the reasons for this phenomenon.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one central Paphos bank manager told the Cyprus Mail, “It’s quite obvious why this area is targeted time and again. Chlorakas is removed from the centre of Paphos where there is a greater police presence. It takes time for police to arrive from the closest stations of either Paphos or Peyia. There are at least four obvious escape routes onto main roads, and numerous smaller connecting roads. These banks are under attack.”

When a new branch is planned, specific criteria is taken into account. A location is usually selected in a busy area, where there is activity during day and night. In Chlorakas, the banks are situated close to the coffee shops, and the centre, where it’s busy and populated. Prime locations such as these are usually chosen for a bank’s location.

“In such cases, our main concern is for the people and not for the money,” assured the bank manager. “If the bank has followed certain procedures, the exposure to human danger is minimal. For example, the amount of money stored in till drawers is limited, as is the total kept in the bank vaults.”

He recommends that these should be double-locked and fitted with time locks.

“If everything has been adhered too, the financial consequences are small.”

Nicos Sophocleous, the assistant police chief for Paphos told a local radio station, “we expect to bring these culprits to justice.”

He called on all banking institutions to take the relevant security measures for the protection of their staff and clients. Sophocleous added that the economic crisis has come to Cyprus, and as a result it could be expected that more cases of robbery and theft will take place, and extra precautions should be taken.

He also maintained that steps shouldn’t be restricted only to the police, but that this also applies to the banks.

Sophocleous also mentioned that he believes the central entrance to a bank should be closed and checked by someone, perhaps a guard. He added that alarm systems should be heard from outside as well as inside the building, and there should also be protective bulletproof glass put in place, forming a barrier between the cashier and the client.

“This will protect the staff and ensure a thief is unable to jump over the desk,” he said.

He further advised that cashiers’ drawers should have a time delay switch on the outside, preventing it from being opened immediately.

He added that these steps might mean extra costs for the banks, but underlined that these recommendations would help towards preventing bank robbery attempts.

The Paphos bank manager disagreed.

“Bulletproof glass has been tested abroad, and unless there is a real problem with armed robberies that endanger peoples lives, the measures already in place should be stuck too. This sort of action will cause the criminals to become more aggressive.”

He added, “You only have to see the statistics of other countries where they’ve tried such things and these measures cause the situation to escalate to a dangerous level. Hostages are taken and bank employees are blackmailed for the lives of their families.

“I wouldn’t want it in my bank; I’m not in favour of it. It’s sending the message to the criminals that you must come armed and ready to shoot.”

However, he believes armed security guards and barriers may be useful for money transfers involving large amounts money.

“But for a properly structured branch, this isn’t necessary for the day-to-day business. With the advanced technology today we have devices to aid us. Such as time locks. Even if both key holders are present, thieves won’t want to wait around for the vault lock to release. They want to get in and out a bank as quickly as possible,” he stressed.

And what of the problem in Chlorakas, how would he address the situation?

“The answer is very simple. Increase the police presence with patrols,” he said. “Why don’t they have so many incidents in other areas in Paphos? In Kato Paphos you can sit and have a coffee, and you’ll see at least one police patrol. This is why banks maintain their main branches on the main avenues. If police were to be present in Chlorakas, all these problems would disappear.”

He believes it’s imperative for Cyprus to act now, as the crime level is still favourably low compared with other countries.

“We need to nip this in the bud. We don’t need to escalate the situation to having armed robberies with victims. Police need to act as deterrents.”

Recently two men on a motorbike attempted to rob a bank in Chlorakas. As they were about to enter the bank, when they saw a municipal workman wearing a reflective jacket and mistook him for a police officer. They fled the scene without entering the bank.


Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[miltiades]

""""This raises the question as to the reasons for this phenomenon. """

Pretty clear I should think , bloody foreigners !!

[SSBubbles]

""""This raises the question as to the reasons for this phenomenon. """

Pretty clear I should think , bloody foreigners !!

Do you class the Greek national as a foreigner too Milti?

[miltiades]

""""This raises the question as to the reasons for this phenomenon. """

Pretty clear I should think , bloody foreigners !!

Do you class the Greek national as a foreigner too Milti?

They are Pontians and they are the most prolific crooks in Paphos.

Incidentally I class all mainland Greeks as foreigners in Cyprus.

You however Bubs are not only a Cypriot Brit you are also absolutely gorgeous !!

[CBBB]

""""This raises the question as to the reasons for this phenomenon. """

Pretty clear I should think , bloody foreigners !!

Do you class the Greek national as a foreigner too Milti?

They are Pontians and they are the most prolific crooks in Paphos.

Incidentally I class all mainland Greeks as foreigners in Cyprus.

You however Bubs are not only a Cypriot Brit you are also absolutely gorgeous !!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are a dirty old man!

(Aren't we all?)

[miltiades]

""""This raises the question as to the reasons for this phenomenon. """

Pretty clear I should think , bloody foreigners !!

Do you class the Greek national as a foreigner too Milti?

They are Pontians and they are the most prolific crooks in Paphos.

Incidentally I class all mainland Greeks as foreigners in Cyprus.

You however Bubs are not only a Cypriot Brit you are also absolutely gorgeous !!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are a dirty old man!

(Aren't we all?)

Dirty old men do it in secret , I expose myself publicly

[Trustme]

What's this? Crime in La La Land? Never! surely this kind if thing does not happen in Cyprus?

[CBBB]

What's this? Crime in La La Land? Never! surely this kind if thing does not happen in Cyprus?

It's because of all the British criminals hiding here, although most of them are in the north.

[Trustme]

Really.

[waldorf]

"Trust me" ? With a name like that, what are you doing by replying to this particular thread ?