Arranging Transport After Large Cash Withdrawals

Criminals who monitor banks, credit unions, and cash services look for customers making large or conspicuous withdrawals and intercept them on foot or by vehicle once they leave the building. In April 2026, a man who withdrew TT$7,000 from a credit union on Dundonald Street, Port of Spain was robbed at the corner of Oxford and Henry Streets shortly after. Three armed men in a waiting vehicle pulled alongside him as he walked, threatening him with a firearm and knives before taking the full amount. The short distance he had walked from the institution offered no protection — the criminals had time to observe the withdrawal, position a vehicle on the likely route, and stage the intercept. Walking on foot after a significant cash withdrawal creates a sustained window of vulnerability: unlike an ATM machine where the risk is immediate, a financial institution allows criminals to observe from inside the queue, note the amount, and follow at a distance before choosing the moment of attack. The cash does not need to be visible to make you a target — knowledge that you have just withdrawn a large sum is enough.

Steps to follow:

• Arrange transport before entering any bank, credit union, or cash service for a significant withdrawal; have a trusted driver waiting outside so you can move directly from the building into a vehicle without any exposed time on foot.
• If your planned transport falls through after a large withdrawal, return inside the institution and wait; call an alternative contact from inside rather than proceeding on foot with a large sum.
• Conduct cash counting and sorting at the teller window or inside a private space before leaving the building; do not count or handle cash in the lobby, the car park, or on the footpath outside.
• Leave the institution immediately after your transaction; do not stop to use your phone, browse nearby shops, or engage with anyone in the immediate vicinity — every additional minute outside the building extends your exposure window.
• Vary the day, time, and branch you use for large withdrawals; returning to the same location at the same time each week allows anyone monitoring the premises to anticipate your movements.
• If you believe you are being followed after leaving a financial institution, enter the nearest populated business or public building immediately — do not attempt to walk to your destination.