AN organised criminal gang may have snatched nearly one million dollars from Australian bank customers after they made large cash withdrawals.
Victorian detectives have linked 11 incidents in Melbourne and Sydney but fear there are many more victims across the country yet to come forward.
The gang is believed to have ties with South America and may even be flying in and out to commit robberies anywhere in Australia, fleeing with thousands of dollars in cash each time.
"It's a smart, well-organised crime gang," said Detective Sergeant Nathan Kaeser, in warning the public on Thursday.
"We generally deal with a lot of street robberies, armed robberies and home invasions, but this seems to be methodically thought out, planned and gaining a lot of money without hurting innocent people."
Police say four to six men have been working together to steal big cash withdrawals by distracting customers as they leave their bank.
Some members watch customers inside banks and tip off the others.
In one often-used ruse, one gang member slashes the car tyres of the targeted customer, another pretends to offer help with the flat, and yet another steals the cash and flees undetected while the victim is distracted.
They may also spray an oil-based or foul-smelling substance on a customer's jacket containing the cash, and another member alerts them to the stain so they take off the jacket for an easy theft later.
Police say the gang has been active since 2009, but an investigation is under way to see if they have been operating even earlier.
Detectives also believe long periods of apparent inactivity may indicate the group moving on to commit crimes elsewhere in the country.
Det Sgt Kaeser said there are fears the group is nearing $1 million in stolen cash, considering the likelihood of many more victims yet to come forward and the large sums already stolen.
This year alone, there have been two such robberies in the Sydney suburb of Burwood, and two in the past month in Melbourne.
Security camera footage has been released in a bid to identify the thieves.
Police are also warning bank customers to be careful when they make large withdrawals and encouraging them to use internet transfers instead.
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