Tense account holders throng bank

CHENNAI: Worried customers gathered in front of the bank after television channels flashed the news of the robbery at the bank. Many attempted to cross the cordoned off area near the entrance to inquire about their valuables, even as police officials got busy with their investigation. “We don’t know what is happening in this city. Everywhere there are thefts happening. As customers, we deposit money and leave our gold valuables here, and trust the bank to safeguard it. But the lack of security measures shows how much the bank values our trust,” said Subramaniam, a customer.Another customer, who did not wish to be named, complained that the city has become home to many labourers from other States and the government needed to do something to protect locals. “There are so many banks that have branches here. Earlier, there was a similar robbery in Perungudi, today it is here. We cannot stop labourers from other States from settling here. But the government has to do something to stop them from robbing us and the media needs to take our request to the authority,” the customer said.Meanwhile, two women crossed the cordoned area and asked the policemen outside the bank if their valuables were safe. “We are customers here and we have our gold valuables in the locker and an account too. We are just worried about our hard-earned money,” the woman said worriedly.Cops, however, pacified the people who had gathered and blamed the bank authorties for not adhering to their instructions to make security arrangments. “What can we do. We have always been instructing banks to place CCTv cameras, armed guards and burglary alarms. After the Perungudi incident, we held a meeting with the local bank officials and even circulated notices informing them to put in place all security measures. But bank officials say that they needed to get permission from their head offices,” a police officer said.Senior police officials visited the bank and conducted an inquiry with the customers and staff members, who were witness to the crime. Sniffer dog Julie ran about 300 metres from the bank as police sources claimed that the car was parked some distance away. The six police special teams investigating the bank robbery at Perungudi were also present to check if there was a similarity in the modus operandi of the crime.