Spike in armed robberies in Gauteng

Over the last few weeks, there has been a spike in the number of armed business and residential robberies in Gauteng.

In March, Fidelity ADT confirmed there have been 22 armed robberies. Some of the areas worst hit included Benoni, Alberton, Glen Marais and Boksburg.

On March 25 and 26 there were 11 reported incidents across various areas in Gauteng. Seven out of the 11 incidents were business robberies.

Charnel Hattingh, head of marketing and communications for Fidelity ADT, said much of the crime is happening during the day.

“Business robberies have definitely increased over the last month. One of the problems now is also the mandatory wearing of a mask in public. Criminals are using this to avoid detection and it has made identifying perpetrators just that much more difficult,” she said.

Business owners need to be aware of this and be especially vigilant. There are also a number of routine measures businesses can take to reduce the chance of a security breach at their premises.

She advised business owners to conduct regular security upgrades and to assess their risk exposure frequently to ensure they have sufficient insurance cover in the event they become victims of crime.

She offers the following safety tips:

• At opening time, inspect the business for forcible entry before entering. One employee should inspect the premises before the rest enter.

• At closing, send an employee to inspect the exits and parking area for any possible suspects or vehicles lurking around.

• Avoid having large amounts of cash on the premises.

• Alternate your banking or cash collection routine regularly.

• Avoid fixtures or signage that obstruct views from and of cash register points.

• Use mirrors and cameras to cover all blind spots in the store and at exit points.

• Invest in good lighting both inside and outside your stores.

• Check your alarm system regularly with your service provider and train your staff on emergency panic procedures. It is always best to get a professional in to assess your security solutions and associated risk. These experts will be able to identify any vulnerable areas and offer the best solutions.

• Review your current alarm systems and upgrade when required, as this is not a revenue line the maintenance thereof is mostly neglected.

• Increase the store’s headcount during opening and closing times as groups are a definite deterrent.

• Stagger lunch rosters to ensure the store is manned sufficiently during these times.

• Do regular credit and criminal checks on all employees, even your regular casual staff.

“On the residential side, we can see that in several instances people have forgotten to arm their systems or put on their outside beams. There is also a worrying trend of gates being left open. That is a problem as it is a home owner’s first line of defence.

“We find that criminals find a weak point in the perimeter security where the electric fence is not working or the gates are not locked.

“With the country preparing to let down their guard and relax ahead of the Easter weekend, we wanted to remind residents and business owners to remain vigilant. You can let down your hair but definitely not your security,” concluded Hattingh.