Ajman police urge banks to ensure security systems are up to date

AJMAN // Police in Ajman have urged banks to ensure their security systems are up to date and surveillance cameras switched on at all times after a robbery attempt.

Three men broke into a bank in Ajman City at about 3.30am on Friday and tried to blow open the ATM safe by igniting a gas cylinder. The safe failed to open and the gang fled the scene.

Police have arrested three Asian men in connection with the incident, and the case has been referred to public prosecution.

Officers were not notified of the attempted robbery until 7.30am because the bank's alarm system was not connected to the police operations room.

Lt Col Abdullah Seif Al Matrooshi, director of CID at Ajman police, said: "We are asking all banks that are already linked to our operations room to always have their cameras on and activated 24 hours so as they can report any robbery attempt immediately."

He added that patrols would be increased around banks, particularly in the early hours of the morning.

Police have also urged customers to take care when making withdrawals, to report any suspicious activity and not to leave cash on the passenger seat of their car.

ykakande@thenational.ae