Never Leave Withdrawn Cash in an Unattended Vehicle

Post-withdrawal surveillance is one of the most patient robbery methods used in Trinidad. Criminals position themselves near bank exits, identify customers who have made significant cash withdrawals, and follow them through multiple stops before striking. The target may take counter-surveillance measures — using a different exit, scanning for following vehicles — and still be at risk if they leave the cash in their vehicle at any point during the journey home. A smash-and-grab from a parked vehicle requires no confrontation with the owner and takes seconds; it is the preferred outcome for any thief who has already confirmed a large sum is on the move. The brief absence while making a purchase is the window they are waiting for.

Steps to follow:

• After any significant cash withdrawal, drive directly home without making intermediate stops; treat the bank-to-home leg as a single uninterrupted journey.
• If a stop is unavoidable, take the cash with you every time you exit the vehicle — carry it into the premises personally, regardless of how brief the errand or how safe the area appears.
• Never leave a bag, envelope, or container holding significant cash inside a parked vehicle; assume that anyone who followed you from the bank knows the money is there and is watching for the moment you walk away.
• Counter-surveillance measures reduce the probability of being followed but cannot eliminate it — they do not substitute for removing cash from the vehicle at every stop.
• Park in a high-visibility area with active CCTV coverage when stops cannot be avoided; an exposed, well-lit location reduces the smash-and-grab window.
• If you notice the same vehicle appearing near you at more than one location after leaving the bank, drive directly to a police station rather than proceeding to your next destination.