Post Office robberies down 29 per cent

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 2

Post Office robberies down 29 per cent

PA Wellington Robberies at Post Offices decreased 29 per cent in 1986, in spite of a recent spate in Auckland. There were 17 Post Office robberies last year, compared with 24 in 1985, according to the security, manager for the Post Office, Mr David Bignell. Mr Bignell said the decrease reflected improved security at post offices, specially as the level of violent offending in the community increased during the year. The recent spate in Auckland — there have been three in the last two weeks — has prompted suggestions that the Post Office may install security bars behind which tellers will dispense cash.

Mr Bignell said this was one of several options the Post Office was considering to tighten security, but he would not say what the others were. He said robberies were a community problem, and post offices, banks and other institutions have become part of that problem. ‘ “We could put bulletproof screens in, but if a

robber comes in and takes someone hostage, what do we do?” he asked. Asked when the Post Office would introduce any new measures, Mr Bignell said it was looking at its security all the time. .

The Bank Officers’ Union is satisfied with security at banks