~Still taking precautions~
PHILIPSBURG--Windward Islands Bank (WIB) does not believe that notes from the Rouge et Noir Casino robbery is in its Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) as is being speculated.
The bank is, however, taking the necessary precautions and following procedures as prescribed by the police. WIB Managing Director Derek Downes said a red marking on a US note (as seen in the photo) does not necessarily mean that the bill is dye-marked from an explosive pack.
The bank said it received complaints from customers who received notes with red marking on them. When these clients went to businesses with the notes, the businesses refused to accept the notes and hence the clients returned to WIB with them.
He said once a note is taken to the bank, the following precautionary measures are taken. The note is taken from the client and the client is given a receipt to confirm that the note was taken. The note is then handed over to the police authorities (as requested by them), for their further investigation.
WIB then conducts its own investigation to determine if in fact the client received the note from one of its ATMs. This includes consulting video evidence, as well as internal ATM reports to firstly determine if the client did use the ATM as stated and what currency and amount were withdrawn by the client (if they used the ATM). If the customer’s claim is confirmed, they are immediately refunded.
Asked what a customer should do if they obtain money that is stained red from the institution’s ATM as these are not being accepted elsewhere due to police notification that it may be from the casino robbery, Downes said the notes should be taken to the bank.
Asked how it is possible that money with red stain ended up in the bank’s ATM, Downes said: “We do not believe that these (notes in pictures) are the dye-stained notes from the robbery and that our ATMs contain any notes from the robbery. However, as a precautionary measure and since some businesses have refused them, we follow the procedure described above.”
It should be noted that banks such as WIB also use explosive dye packs. When dye packs explode the funds are usually heavily stained red.
Several reports were circulating on Monday that persons have withdrawn monies from WIB’s ATM machines that have red marks on them. People are now on high alert for money stained red since the police have indicated not to accept them as they can be from the recent Rouge et Noir casino robbery.
Rouge et Noir Casino was robbed on Thursday, October 6. Five days later on Tuesday, October 13, police issued a notification urging the public not to accept or use money that is stained red as this is possibly funds stolen from Rouge et Noir Casino. The police said the money bag stolen during the robbery contained an explosive “dye pack,” which exploded and stained the funds inside the bag red when it was removed from the casino.
This makes the stolen funds easily identifiable, police spokesperson Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson had said at the time. Henson said any type of bleaching agent used in an attempt to remove the red dye will not help. He said investigators have been informed of persons using or attempting to use the red tainted money.
Attempts were also made by persons to use this money in cellular phone vending machines and other machines such as gambling machines. Henson warned the community and businesses not to accept or use this money, noting that anyone who has been offered this money should not accept it and immediately get in contact with the Police Department.
