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COSTA RICA |
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Banks Reinforce Security For Aguinaldo
Season
With only days before the Aguinaldo
(Christmas bonus), banks will today increase
their security measures to protect the
public and the banks themselves from being
victims of crime.
Some of the measures that the banks will
have in place is increasing their monitoring
of automated teller machines (ATM's), adding
security around their branches, internet
transaction and take to advising customers
on the risks of carrying large amounts of
cash on the street.
Working with the banks to co-ordinate the
security efforts is the Comisión
Interbancaria de Seguridad, with the
participation of the heads of security of
each financial institution, the Organismo de
Investigación Judicial (OIJ) and the Fuerza
Pública.
The commission will have set up an
"operations centre" to co-ordinate security
actions and police response.
According to the estimates by the Encuesta
de Hogares in July 2009, some ¢462 billion
colones will hit the streets starting the
beginning of December.
Employers, both private and public, have
until December 20 to pay their employees the
aguinaldo, which, for simplicity sake, is
equal to one months average salary earned
between December 1, 2008 and November 30,
2009. The central government announced that
it will pay all public employees on December
8.
Employers who fail to pay the aguinaldo will
face sanctions.
As to ATM's the banks are taking action to
avoid the occurrences of the "paseos
millonarios" (millionaire walk), where
anti-socials temporarily kidnap their
victim, visiting a number of ATM locations
forcing the withdrawl as much cash as
possible.
Some banks, like the Banco Nacional, the
Banco de Costa Rica and the Banco Popular
(all three state banks) will shut down their
ATM's between 10pm and 5am. The HSBC
(private bank) announced it will shut down
its ATM's between 10pm and 6am.
In addition, the banks say that the amount
of cash that can be withdrawn on any given
day will be reduced, however, for secuirty
reasons did not disclose the reduced amount.
Also, cameras and police will be be
monitoring ATM activity in some locations.
Inside the bank branches, as outside, it may
be uncommon to see uniformed police
monitoring movements. In addition, some
banks will have security officials dressed
in plain clothes and mingling among
customers.
Bank officials are also asking their
customers to help out, by being more aware
of their surrounds and alerting bank
security of any suspicious activity.
The Banco de Costa Rica, for instance, is
asking that customers take along a friend or
family member when visiting the bank and not
to talk to or take advice of strangers.
Asking for the time or asking for directions
is a favourite method of distraction by
anti-socials. Another method is for
anti-socials to mingle among customers,
choose their victim and offer help to speed
the transaction by knowing or working for
the bank.
The "pinchonazo" is another favourite. The
anti-social, after choosing their victim,
punches a hole in the tire and offers help
to change it after the intended victim exits
the branch, with a bag full of cash.
Dropping a bill or more near their mark then
calling the attention that he or she has
dropped money, as a way of catching their
victim off guard, while an accomplice picks
the pocket, runs off with the victims purse
or bag.
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