Midrand police communications officer, Constable Matome Tlamela said the police saw a suspicious vehicle parked at the scrap yard while they were patrolling.
“They approached the said vehicle with two occupants inside,” said Tlamela. “The police introduced themselves and searched the vehicle. During the search the police found the copper cable in the boot of that vehicle which the driver and his passenger failed to explain where they got it from.”
They were then arrested for possession of stolen copper cable.
Tips to prevent a business robbery:
- Establish opening and closing procedures and train your employees on those procedures.
- If possible, have two or more employees present during opening and closing time.
- Establish a cash protection system. Only keep a minimum amount of cash on hand.
- Employees should not handle large amounts of cash while visible in public.
- If possible, make bank deposits during the day with two people.
- Vary your route to the bank. Go to the bank at different times and don’t stop along the way.
- Ensure that your business is well lit and visible from the street.
- Install physical barriers between employees and customers such as protective glass.
- Install surveillance camera equipment. Hang signs that display that you have cameras.
- Install a silent alarm system with a hidden panic button that notifies the security company if trouble occurs.
- Train the employees to watch for and report suspicious people or activities.
