Time to halt highway robberies

When the famous Turf Club robbery took place in 1942 - the biggest ever up until that time - the sum involved was Rs 4 lakhs Haralakse mankolle. The robbery shook the nation and created waves. The incident occupied the newspaper headlines until the arrest of the suspects and recovery of the loot.

In comparison Thursday’s robbery of over Rs 70 million from a van transporting cash to replenish ATM machines of a private Bank hardly created a ripple with the public although it is the second biggest ever robbery to have taken place in Sri Lanka, a reflection of the times?

The subject has already been pushed out of the front pages of newspapers with the incident only a dim memory. Years of carnage, of bombings, mutilation and other destruction caused by terrorists no doubt have anaesthetized the public to serious crime such as armed robbery. These have now become an everyday staple in the country with only the amounts robbed varying. The serial Bank robberies that took place during the height of both Northern as well as Southern insurgencies may also have contributed to this indifference.

This public apathy no doubt has given added impetus to the criminal elements to engage in their foul deeds. The time therefore has come to refocus public attention to the real threat in our midst, now that the terrorist threat is no more. It is only through a collective public consciousness that crime can be effectively combatted.

Be that as it may Thursday’s daring pre-dawn heist in Kelaniya have once again exposed the vulnerability of the various security systems in place to protect cash in transit. It was only one year ago a similar robbery took place in Kotadeniyawa where Rs nine million was grabbed. Here too the robbery took place while the money was been transported to replenish teller machines. The set up was uncannily similar to Thursday’s heist where the robbers were dressed in military uniform and manning a ‘Security check point’.

This type of robbery has now become a familiar pattern in the country which should seriously engage the attention of the law enforcement authorities. As suggested in newspaper reports, there is obviously inside collaboration in the affair and certain features of the robbery bear close scrutiny. Strangely the van carrying over Rs 70 million instead of proceeding on the main Negombo Road to Peliyagoda and thereby Kelaniya where the money was to be deposited had taken an isolated branch road at that ungodly hour.

Even stranger is how come there was a security checkpoint on this isolated stretch. Did the occupants in the van knowingly take this detour so that they would drive into the arms of their captors? Why was there only two security guards deployed to accompany such a massive sum? It was also reported they were armed with shot guns and what is more they were not loaded at the time of the heist, all leading to buttress the argument of inside collusion.

The robbery has also the ingredients of a well-planned and executed operation. It is also reported that the Bank concerned is holding the private security firm liable for the loss. While this may be a justified it should also probe if there was a mole among its own ranks. This had been the case in most Bank robberies in the past and it would be premature to discount this possibility in the latest incident.

The role of private security firms too needs reassessment. It is common knowledge that with the escalation of the terrorist problem there was an exponential proliferation of private security firms in the country. No doubt some of them were staffed with retired Police or ex-military personnel who knew their job and performed an efficient service. It is equally true that there were other such firms who merely sprung up to cash in on the demand and were really out of their depth when it came to big challenges.

It is time that the authorities make a comprehensive assessment of all private security firms and their usefulness in the current context. It would be advisable for such private security firms to be placed under a grading reflecting their competence. While not calling into question the competence of the security firm concerned it was indeed sheer folly to have deployed only two security officers where such a large sum was involved - especially when the journey was at night.

Be that as it may such daring robberies pose a danger not only to society but could also have other serious ramifications. At a time when the people have heaved a huge sigh of relief with the end to terrorism and are enjoying a climate of peace such acts of criminality is bound to shatter this atmosphere. In addition it is also not the best scenario at a time the Government is going all out to attract foreign investments to the country.

Such daring robberies would discourage any investor who will not wish to take any chances. Three decades of terrorism drove away the investors. The Government should now ensure that investors will not be deterred by a wave Bank robberies. The law enforcement should be tightened up to arrest this trend. An all out war should be waged against this new phenomenon lest it gets out of hand.