Help cash-in-transit officers keep you safe

Mr Shaun Nicholls, from SBV Services, shares some tips on keeping yourself safe when cash and valuables are being transported nearby.

The value of protection officers who keep the public safe when cash and valuables are transported cannot be overstated.

The significant decrease in cash-in-transit heists, from 467 in 2007 to 119 in 2015, is in many ways a result of the effort, skill and commitment of these protection officers.

However, the reward of keeping people safe does come with high stress and risk. Transporting cash and valuables is particularly risky because of the high-value attraction for criminals.

Protection officers can seem brash and unfriendly, but they are trained to be solely focused on the job at hand and on keeping those around them safe.

In order to help protection officers, there are a number of things the public can do to keep themselves safe and allow security services to carry out their work.

These include:

•  Don’t approach protection officers who are holding firearms, they are trained to interpret this as a tactic to take their attention off their job.
•  If you are on an escalator or in a lift you might be asked to make room for them to pass, as it’s important to get a high risk item in transit off the premises as quickly as possible.
•  Armoured vehicles park in places that allow easy and swift access to pick up points so that protection officers can get in and out quickly, so make sure you don’t park them in.
•  Don’t approach armoured vehicles for any reason. If you need to contact the security company, you can call the number marked on the vehicle.
•  If an ATM is being filled or emptied, rather leave the area and come back when you know it’s been completed.
•  In the event of a robbery attempt, don’t remove or touch any objects in the area. Phone the South African Police Service (SAPS) on 10111 as soon as possible.

You can help with crime prevention by being aware of any suspicious behaviour.

Contact the SAPS immediately if you’ve identified a potentially dangerous situation, irregularities or infringements.