AS we are approching the festive season, Pinetown SAPS has issued some crime tips.
Businesses:
· Critically look at your current security measure and improve on them.
· Reduce the amount of cash on hand at the business premises (consider drop safes).
· Paying large sums of money to staff off the premises presents imminent danger – rather make electronic payments.
· Bank daily takings regularly throughout the day and vary your pattern of operation.
· Avoid using the same vehicle, the same person, on the same day and time when doing banking.
· Be vigilant of anyone observing your operation.
· Sensitise personnel to be alert during opening and closing times.
Alert police immediately if you are a target of robbery and without placing yourself at danger, do the following:
· Note what the robbers were wearing and what they looked like.
· Note any distinctive marks or mannerisms they displayed.
· If possible, try to see the direction they fled in and if they were on foot.
· If a vehicle was used, try to remember the colour, make and registration number.
· When contacting the police, give them as much of this information as you can.
Hints during an armed robbery:
· Do not resist – you will only be putting lives at risk.
· Remain calm – if you panic, try to regulate your breathing by taking long, slow, deliberate breaths.
· Speak slowly – do not raise your voice to the robbers otherwise they will lose self-control.
· Make no sudden movements – tell the robber what you are doing, such as, “I am going to take my keys out of my pocket now,” and then do it slowly.
· Do not set off the siren – activate the alarm only if it can be done secretly. Many armed robbers have turned violent (with hostages taken) because the siren panics the robbers.
· Do not look the robber directly in the face – the robber may think you are memorising his features for later identification and he could then shoot you.
· Give the robbers time to leave – do not try to prevent their get-away as this could turn violent, resulting in death or injury.
Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Cst Phindile Radebe, also urged motorists to close their windows when approaching intersections in the Pinetown CBD.
“The problematic areas are Josiah Gumede Road at the corner of Crompton Street up to Anderson Road next to the taxi rank,” she said.
To report crime, contact the police on 10111 or Pinetown SAPS on 031 325 5080/1/2/3 to report such crime or suspicious activity.
