As the festive season fast approaches, the SAPS is warning residents and business owners of an increase of business robberies around Vosloorus.
Vosloorus SAPS media liaison officer Capt Piet Rossouw said at the beginning of every festive season, they experience many cash robberies, especially of stokvel groups.
“In Vosloorus, the police are experiencing more robbery cases, including chain businesses, taverns, shebeens, spaza shops, doctor and lawyer consulting rooms and hair salons,” said Rossouw.
He said it is evident that criminals are desperate and will do anything to get money.
“Money droppings and scam syndicates comprised of males and females are also targeting unsuspected shoppers by luring them on their websites. Some criminals even pretend to be church leaders or pastors.
“There is a saying, ‘If it is too good to be true, it is a scam’. There is no means of making easy and fast money.
“We ask the help of the media as our partners in combatting crime to appeal to the community to be extra vigilant.
“We also appeal to the community to assist us to curb these crimes by being our ears and eyes and supply us with information for us to be able to arrest the offenders,” said Rossouw.
Crime-prevention tips
For businesses
A small business that is cash-based and needs to deposit money regularly at the bank should apply the following tips, which will minimise the chances of you being a victim of robberies.
• Alternate the days and times on which you deposit cash.
• Never make your bank visits public, even to people close to you.
• Do not openly display the money you are depositing while you are standing in the bank queue.
• Avoid carrying money bags, briefcases or openly display your deposit receipt book.
• It is advisable to identify another branch nearby that you can visit to ensure that your banking pattern is not easily recognisable or detected.
• If the amount of cash you are regularly depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company.
For savings clubs and stokvels
If you are a member of a cash savings club, advise members of your club of the following tips that will assist your club from being a victim of cash robberies
• Refrain from making cash deposits of club members’ contributions on high-risk days like a Monday after month-end.
• Ensure a person depositing club cash contributions or making withdrawals are accompanied by another club member.
• A stokvel, savings club or burial society can arrange for members to deposit cash directly into the club’s account instead of collecting cash contributions.
• Arrange for the club’s pay-out to be electronically transferred into each club member’s personal account or accounts of their choice.
• Do not keep money at any place except in a bank account.
