Police: Businessman was warned several times

Local police say that businessman Austin Mounsey was warned on several occasions about the unsafe manner in which he deposits money at the Bank of Nova Scotia.{{more}}

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Assistant Superintendent Willisford Caesar, confirmed this to SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday this week.

“I can go on record and say that this is one person we have warned before…he did not follow police advice,” Caesar said.

Mounsey, 46, of Richland Park, was shot and robbed at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, while in his vehicle (PM 639) which was parked outside the bank.

Police report that a jeep pulled up alongside Mounsey’s jeep and two masked gunmen accosted him armed with guns while he was seated in the vehicle. The robbers shot through the passenger side of the vehicle then ran around to where Mounsey was seated and shot him in both arms before relieving him of an unknown quantity of cash.

Caesar noted that persons ought to be more careful with dealing with cash deposits at banks. Caesar said that cash in quantity attracts robbers and puts the person’s life at risk.

Caesar advised that persons or businesses moving cash to the bank should think of hiring a cash in transit service to carry their money to the bank. “This is one of the safest ways to deposit money because trained personnel are used to do this,” Caesar noted.

In the case of Mounsey, who operates a small business in a rural area, Caesar urged these types of businesses to come together with other small businesses in their respective communities to hire a cash-in-transit company for regular use.

Caesar beseeched business houses to avoid using public transport or if using a private vehicle, they should keep all the doors locked.

He said persons must not establish a routine of cash movement and beware of drivers acting suspiciously.

“I want people to learn to follow these tips because I know there are others doing these same things…we just want to show persons ways they can protect themselves,” Caesar added.

The CID head added that Mounsey reported that a vehicle had been following him, but he (Mounsey) did not pay attention to the registration number of the vehicle.

“Kingstown is usually dead around that time of day and I don’t think it wise for persons to make deposits at that time, when it is dark and people are hardly around,” Caesar pointed out.

This is not the first time Mounsey has fallen prey to robbers. On Sunday, November 29, 2009, Mounsey was hit in the back by an unknown assailant who relieved him of two bags of cash as he (Mounsey) was about to take a deposit at the same bank.

Caesar also advised persons who may not use the cash-in-transit service or their own transportation to call on the police for assistance. (KW)