Secure Cash Immediately When Arriving Home After a Withdrawal

In June 2026, a businessman withdrew TT$67,000 from Republic Bank at Valpark Shopping Plaza and drove to his Gasparillo home. Within minutes of parking, CCTV recorded a silver Toyota Aqua pulling alongside his unlocked vehicle; a passenger reached through the open window and removed the envelope of cash from the front seat while the owner was briefly inside. The entire operation — surveillance at the bank, a covert follow over a 40-minute drive, and the extraction — required no confrontation with the victim at all. Criminals who position themselves near banks track large withdrawals and follow vehicles home, waiting not for a moment of force but for a moment of inattention. The vehicle parked briefly at the kerb, windows down, owner just inside, is the window they need.

Steps to follow:

• Take all cash directly inside with you the moment you arrive at your destination — do not leave it in the vehicle for any length of time, even if you are only stepping inside briefly.
• Keep cash completely out of sight during transit: place it in the boot, in a bag on the floor, or on your person — never leave it on a seat where it can be seen through the window.
• After a large withdrawal, check your mirrors before pulling out of the bank car park; if a vehicle pulls out immediately behind you or you notice the same car at multiple points on your journey, do not go home — drive to the nearest police station instead.
• Lock the vehicle and take the keys whenever you leave it, regardless of how short the absence; an unlocked vehicle at the kerb is an open invitation.
• Consider varying your route home after a large withdrawal; a direct route from bank to home is predictable and easy to follow.
• For withdrawals above a threshold you are comfortable carrying alone, bring a second person who can accompany you from the bank to your destination and ensure the cash is secured immediately on arrival.