Police vigilance high in shopping centres

Douglasdale Community Police Forum chairperson Jean Berdou said uniformed and plain-clothed police officers were deployed in the Fourways area with high priority placed on Pinelopes, Fourways Mall and Fourways Crossing shopping centres. “This, integrated with the police air-wing, means criminals stand little chance in plying their trade in the Fourways area,” said Berdou.

Fourways Review’s social media readers have previously expressed concern about crime in shopping centres in the area.

In July, an attempted robbery occurred at Fourways Crossing shopping centre. This was followed by an unrelated arrest of a suspect using a car-jamming device on 26 July.

Berdou said Douglasdale police acted on a tip-off and successfully arrested the suspect at the centre during an operation. He confirmed that a woman was also robbed of jewellery and money at gunpoint while sitting in her car in Pineslopes shopping centre’s car park. A car guard was also held up and the armed criminals fled by car.

Berdou said, “Douglasdale police and Community Policing Forum are determined to ensure the safety and security of our shoppers and community members. The public are warned to remain vigilant, report all suspicious activity and provide police with the necessary co-operation where needed.”

He also warned shoppers to ensure their cars are locked by testing the door handles before leaving them.

“Remember that a car is much easier to break into than a house and is the highest occurring crime in our area. Be aware of your surroundings while you are in your car,” said Berdou.

Details: Douglasdale Police Station: 011-699-1300.