Armed response service provider Fidelity ADT calls for shopping to remain vigilant and practice caution as shopping centres become busier this holiday season.
Marketing and communications officer at Fidelity Services Group, Charnel Hattingh, encourages shoppers to carry as little as possible in their handbags and packets.
Instead, leave behind all unnecessary bank and store cards and large amounts of cash.
Drawing cash at the ATM also needs to be done with care.
“Criminals depend on their targets being distracted. It is when people aren’t paying attention when they become easy targets for would-be thieves.”
Hattingh recommends:
- If you need to draw money at an ATM, use a machine in a busy, public area
- Be aware of anyone standing nearby and never accept help from strangers when entering your PIN
- Put your money in your purse or wallet before you walk away from the ATM
- If you think someone has followed you from the machine, walk into the nearest shop or up to a mall security guard.
Your safety outside the mall is just as important as it is inside:
- Avoid shopping late at night, keeping in mind the current curfew regulations
- Another risk is remote jamming. Always park your car in a well-lit, properly secured parking area, ideally with security personnel on duty
- When you leave your car, make sure the doors are properly locked. Never just assume that your remote had in fact locked your doors
- The extra few seconds it takes to make sure the car is properly locked and secured are worth it.
“The best option is therefore to be on the lookout for anyone following you or someone loitering at your car in the parking area. Trust your instincts and call for help if you feel unsafe or unsure,” says Hattingh.
Related article:
Top shopping tips to keep you safe
