Post by Fender on Jul 18, 2009 21:53:35 GMT -5
Crime on the Rise in Kosovo, Warns Bank Chief
Pristina | 17 July 2009 | By Petrit Qollaku and Vjosa Musliu
ProCredit Bank, PristinaHead of Kosovo’s Biggest Bank Reveals New Security Measures Following Latest Armed Heist.
The General Manager of Kosovo’s biggest bank has warned of a ‘radical rise’ in bank robberies following the latest in a series of armed heists.
Philip Sigwart, of ProCredit Bank, told Pristina Insight that financial institutions were being targeted as part of a ‘general increase in criminality’ in the country.
Kosovo Police confirmed that, despite a lack of accurate statistics, it could confirm that burglaries and robberies were on the up.
A ProCredit Bank in Pristina was robbed of 19,000 euro on Friday, 10 July – the third attack against the bank in Kosovo’s capital in two months.
Mr Sigwart told Pristina Insight: “We believe that this is a reflection of the general increase of criminality in Kosovo.
“During our first 8 years of operations in Kosovo, ProCredit Bank did not have a single robbery.
“This year we had three robberies in a row. Other financial institutions are targeted as well, such as the Western Union offices, so this is not limited to ProCredit Bank.
“We invest a lot in security, but when you are confronted with people who are willing to risk everything to steal others people’s money it is difficult to have 100 per cent protection.”
Mr Sigwart said that his bank was now investing significant sums in new security technology not currently used anywhere else in the Balkans.
He said: “As there has been a radical increase in the number of bank robberies, it has become a necessity to upgrade some of our security installations to the latest standards and to purchase new technology such as dye-packs, these are devices that explode in a shower of coloured ink and permanently stain the stolen banknotes.
“We will be the first bank in the whole Balkan region to implement this latest technology.”
Agron Borovci, Kosovo’s police spokesperson for the Pristina region, said that police were connected the three robberies, but no arrests had been made.
He said: “We suspect that we are dealing with the same group of persons, taking into consideration the elements of robberies.
“There are always two persons, masked and carrying weapons, and they attack the banks early in the morning.”
Besim Hoti, Kosovo Police Spokesperson, told Pristina Insight: “The 8,000 police of Kosovo's Police Service cannot ensure the safety of all the businesses in Kosovo.
“The banks specifically should look at their internal security issues.”
But he added that crime is on the rise in Kosovo. He said: “We don’t have accurate statistics yet. But, by and large, there is an increase in burglaries and robberies in general.”
Three Pro-Credit Banks in Pristina and one in Skopje have been robbed since April.
Two policemen and three residents were injured during the armed heist in Macedonia.
Local reports suggested the robbers stole about 50,000 euro before fleeing to Kosovo.
Kosovo Police confirmed they were working in close cooperation with Macedonian authorities, but could not say whether the crimes in Pristina and Skopje were connected.
Shemsi Krasniqi, head of sociology department at Pristina's University, said that the financial crisis should not be blamed for the increase in crime.
He said: “Certain people commit crimes, robberies and the like in the name of [the financial] crisis and turmoil, but the real source of this situation is the degeneration of values.
“Kosovo has seen a dramatic system change, felt in the economy, society and politics.
“Because of this dramatic change, our society has not yet established a new system of values, and until we manage to do that, certain people will profit from the chaos.”
Pristina | 17 July 2009 | By Petrit Qollaku and Vjosa Musliu
ProCredit Bank, PristinaHead of Kosovo’s Biggest Bank Reveals New Security Measures Following Latest Armed Heist.
The General Manager of Kosovo’s biggest bank has warned of a ‘radical rise’ in bank robberies following the latest in a series of armed heists.
Philip Sigwart, of ProCredit Bank, told Pristina Insight that financial institutions were being targeted as part of a ‘general increase in criminality’ in the country.
Kosovo Police confirmed that, despite a lack of accurate statistics, it could confirm that burglaries and robberies were on the up.
A ProCredit Bank in Pristina was robbed of 19,000 euro on Friday, 10 July – the third attack against the bank in Kosovo’s capital in two months.
Mr Sigwart told Pristina Insight: “We believe that this is a reflection of the general increase of criminality in Kosovo.
“During our first 8 years of operations in Kosovo, ProCredit Bank did not have a single robbery.
“This year we had three robberies in a row. Other financial institutions are targeted as well, such as the Western Union offices, so this is not limited to ProCredit Bank.
“We invest a lot in security, but when you are confronted with people who are willing to risk everything to steal others people’s money it is difficult to have 100 per cent protection.”
Mr Sigwart said that his bank was now investing significant sums in new security technology not currently used anywhere else in the Balkans.
He said: “As there has been a radical increase in the number of bank robberies, it has become a necessity to upgrade some of our security installations to the latest standards and to purchase new technology such as dye-packs, these are devices that explode in a shower of coloured ink and permanently stain the stolen banknotes.
“We will be the first bank in the whole Balkan region to implement this latest technology.”
Agron Borovci, Kosovo’s police spokesperson for the Pristina region, said that police were connected the three robberies, but no arrests had been made.
He said: “We suspect that we are dealing with the same group of persons, taking into consideration the elements of robberies.
“There are always two persons, masked and carrying weapons, and they attack the banks early in the morning.”
Besim Hoti, Kosovo Police Spokesperson, told Pristina Insight: “The 8,000 police of Kosovo's Police Service cannot ensure the safety of all the businesses in Kosovo.
“The banks specifically should look at their internal security issues.”
But he added that crime is on the rise in Kosovo. He said: “We don’t have accurate statistics yet. But, by and large, there is an increase in burglaries and robberies in general.”
Three Pro-Credit Banks in Pristina and one in Skopje have been robbed since April.
Two policemen and three residents were injured during the armed heist in Macedonia.
Local reports suggested the robbers stole about 50,000 euro before fleeing to Kosovo.
Kosovo Police confirmed they were working in close cooperation with Macedonian authorities, but could not say whether the crimes in Pristina and Skopje were connected.
Shemsi Krasniqi, head of sociology department at Pristina's University, said that the financial crisis should not be blamed for the increase in crime.
He said: “Certain people commit crimes, robberies and the like in the name of [the financial] crisis and turmoil, but the real source of this situation is the degeneration of values.
“Kosovo has seen a dramatic system change, felt in the economy, society and politics.
“Because of this dramatic change, our society has not yet established a new system of values, and until we manage to do that, certain people will profit from the chaos.”