Irate customer smashes ATM, doors to 2 banks in New Amsterdam

– shuts down service to thousands

A man is now in police custody assisting with the investigations after the doors and other parts of two commercial banks in New Amsterdam Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) were vandalised on Sunday morning.
Reports are that the man, a customer of the bank, went to the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) at Republic Bank, situated on Strand and New Streets, and found that the ATM had no cash. After using a metal object to smash both ATM machines at the bank and also the damage sections of the wall, the man then turned his attention to other infrastructure, smashing the door to the ATM and also inflicting several holes on the glass wall of the bank. The main commercial door to the bank was also severely damaged.

The man then moved to Scotia bank situated 120 meters away, which also uses visa debit cards. In recent weeks the bank had placed a notice outside of the ATM stating that upgrades were being done and that the ATM was only available for deposits and not for withdrawals.
At Scotia Bank the glass walls in front of the bank were also smashed in. There was also extensive damage to the ATM door. However, this publication could not confirm whether the ATM was also damaged.
This publication has also been unable to ascertain where the guards were at both of the banks at the time of the incident.
It has become customary for customers using the New Amsterdam branch of Republic Bank to turn up on weekends and find that there is no cash at the ATM. Sometimes this episode occurs several times over the weekend after cash would have been replaced in the ATM.
Meanwhile, there are customers who reported turning up to the Republic Bank ATM at 3:30h Sunday morning and found that there was no money in the ATM.
Police who have arrested the male suspect see that the matter is being investigated. Regional Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday morning, and it was reported as damage to property at Scotia bank and Republic Bank on Strand New Amsterdam.
According to the Commander, a 25-year-old man of of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice is in custody assisting the police with their investigation of damage to property committed on the two banks between 09:30h and 09:50h on Sunday.
At Republic Bank, the man maliciously damaged four glass windows, two glass doors, and two ATM machines, while at Scotia Bank, he damaged eight glass windows and two glass doors.
Both institutions are yet to ascertain the value of the damage.
Meanwhile, when this publication visited, a contractor was installing ply to cover the doors and Republic Bank, while Scotia bank had persons working from the inside of the building.