12 December 2007
Maputo — A group of nine so far unidentified criminals robbed a branch of the Millennium-BIM bank in one of the Maputo suburbs on Tuesday afternoon, and stole upwards of 600,000 meticais (about 24,700 US dollars).
Owned mostly by the largest Portuguese financial institution, the BCP, the Millennium-BIM is by far the largest commercial bank in Mozambique
The Tuesday crime follows a bank robbery on Monday where a group of six thieves robbed the branch of the Barclays Mocambique, in the Maputo neighbourhood of Hulene.
Speaking of the Millennium-BIM robbery, Maputo police spokesperson Arnaldo Chefo told Radio Mozambique that the criminals were travelling in two private vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and a Citi-Golf.
The gang entered the bank pretending to be clients, and did not arouse the suspicion of the security guards - until they pulled out their guns.
"They threatened the clients inside and stole the money from the cashiers. The exact amount is not known, but it is about 600,000 meticais. Fortunately there were no casualties in this crime", said Chefo.
He added that the gang members were armed with firearms and an axe. The police have pledged to do all in their power to arrest these criminals, and have mobilized a police team specifically to hunt them down.
There had been a spate of bank robberies in Maputo and the neighbouring city of Matola in the early months of this year. More recently, this kind of attack had apparently ceased. But now, with the festive season approaching, the criminals have struck at banks twice in as many days.
In July, Interior Minister Jose Pacheco promised to the public that his institution will make sure that crime will be under control before the end of the year and people will be able to move around freely.
"We will bring violent crime down to levels where people will feel safe. All security measures are being doubled", he promised then.
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