Community must be on high alert when out and about in town this festive season

A surge in crime is expected to go hand in hand with the increase of festive shopping sprees and banking activities. Authorities have warned members of the community to be on high alert when they are out and about in town. Bank card scams increase dramatically during this season and the community is advised to be cautious while withdrawing money. Syndicates in Tzaneen target isolated ATM’s in shopping complexes where they pretend to help people. In the process, they exchange cards without the victim noticing it immediately. They then run to ATMs which do not have CCTV cameras around town to withdraw money from there. Sgt Maurice Nkhwashu of Tzaneen Police Station, told the Herald that residents must not trust anyone offering to help them at ATMs.

“These syndicates are mostly well dressed and spoken, therefore only allow the security guards who work at the ATMs to help you instead. “Some even dress as security guard officers,” he said. “Rather go inside the branch and ask for assistance if you are struggling with a transaction,” he said. He added the following tips: • Avoid overcrowded spaces, it is easy to get robbed in such places. • Don’t put your handbag inside a trolley. • At an ATM, refuse to exchange money with anyone, requesting change as they normally exchange with fake notes (money). • Refuse to help anyone who asks you to give them cash saying they will transfer you the money because the queues are long. • People going on holiday must post their vacation photos after they return home. Photos on social media can alert criminals to the fact that there is no one at home.

Also read: Ten Top Tips to Save Energy This Festive Season

• Don’t move/walk next to cash-in-transit vehicles as if a robbery was to take place, you might get in the firing line. Criminals also target stokvel groups by robbing them of their hard earned cash which they saved through out the year. There have been reports of people being robbed of their stokvel money on their way back from withdrawing their money at the bank. There have also been incidents at retail shops where stokvel groups were in a queue to buy their groceries. “They were approached by people who pretended to be staff members at the store and requested them to hand over the money and then fled the scene,” said Nkhwashu. Premjee Cash and Carry, has a system that will help eliminate these criminal actions.

“We have a team who assist stockvel members with a quote. When the members agree to the products and the amount on the quote, we then take them to the cash office to make payment. “Once this is done the next team takes over to prepare the order and make sure the correct items have been taken out. “The last team then takes over to load the goods,” explained Premjee management. The store added that they seal the deal by providing them with popcorn while they are waiting for their order to be assembled. They also give a complementary voucher to the stokvel groups and also donate a pair of school shoes to every member of the stokvel teams.