A focus on safety and security ahead of the festive season

Several entities gathered at Lakeside Mall on Saturday morning to share safety and security information with shoppers ahead of the festive season.

SAPS members stand with shoppers after assisting them. They are, left: Capt Nomsa Sekele, Sebenzile Dlamini, Const Zunickha Essakjee, Innocent Dhladla and Const Happiness Vilakazi.

The SAPS, EMPD, Fidelity Security Group and Capitec Bank were seated at entrance five of the mall, to answer questions from the public.

Booklets were also handed out at the doors of each entrance, for those who didn’t approach the stands for further information.

Several tips were given.

As you shop

• Don’t carry large sums of cash.
• Try to use bank cards when purchasing.
• Don’t carry your cellphone and wallet in your back pocket
• Ensure that you have all your belongings before leaving a store.
• Report suspicious people, behaviour or situations to the mall security.
• Don’t leave valuables in trolleys and be careful of scams where strangers stand in passageways and offer you discounts on goods found in shops.

In the parking lot

• Roll up the windows and lock your car doors.
• Check the doors by hand after locking with a remote.
• Don’t leave valuables in the car.
• Be aware of your surroundings and have your keys out and ready when approaching your vehicle.
• Don’t linger once getting into your car and never leave children or animals unattended in a vehicle.
“Park near other cars and ensure that your car is locked after pressing the button, because jams can happen despite the car making a noise – when in fact, the doors aren’t locked,” said Fidelity Security Group operations manager Anrich du Preez.

Safety tip on bags

• Don’t give your bag to anyone who approaches you.
• Always zip your bag, never leave it unattended and minimise the items you carry in your handbag
• When loading a vehicle, place your bag inside the car, on the floor.

Be careful at ATMs

• Never make large cash withdrawals.
• If you see somebody suspicious lingering around an ATM, walk away.
• If anything suspicious happens, cancel the request and leave.
• Never leave your receipts in the machine, and if you are bumped or distracted while using an ATM, cancel your transaction; make sure you have the right bank card and leave.
“Using credit cards ensures safety, because Capitec’s cards have a chip and pin,” said Capitec service consultant, Lempe Lekubu.

Losing a child in a mall

• Ask a mall security guard to assist.
• Produce a photograph of your child.
• Try to remember if your child tried to go somewhere or spoke to someone. Always label your child’s clothing with a reachable contact detail. “If at all possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter,” said Capt Nomsa Sekele, the Benoni SAPS spokesperson. “Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to restrooms. “Teach your child to go to a shop clerk and ask for help, in case your child is separated from you.”

Do’s and don’ts on escalators

• Step on and off carefully
• Hold the handrails and hand of any child with you
• Always face forward
• Never sit down and always keep hands, feet and clothing clear of moving parts.

Some emergency numbers are:

• EMPD Call Centre: 011 999 2093
• Fire and Emergency Services: 011 458 0911
• Municipality Customer Care: 011 999 6322
• Emergency: 10 111
• Ambulance: 10 177