Criminals may exploit every gap given to them but sometimes opportunities shut in their face.
Surveillance footage around the stores on Wagenaar Street shows the moments a man attempts to rob the shops on the road running past the nearby school.
The video shows the armed man shut out of the shop as two customers flee the area. Unable to open the shop door, he turns his attention to the vehicle parked outside but is again unable to force his way in, eventually giving up and leaving empty-handed.
Roodepoort Police spokesperson, Captain Juanita Yorke, issued a list of safety tips for customers and business owners as the festive season rush approaches:
• Business robberies: – Do not keep too much money on the business premises – Be on the lookout for suspicious ‘customers’ – Do not keep the shop open till late – Avoid being alone, especially at night – Business owners must not open for anyone after the business has closed – Vetting of staff before employment is crucial to good business etiquette
• Delivery safety tips for business owners: – Consider the drivers’ safety and security before they leave – Always ask for a call-back number for the customer and verify that number before the delivery – Have a list of all delivery customers, and their telephone numbers. The order or delivery should be on file before the driver leaves the store to make any deliveries – Try to use a ‘card-only’ policy for all deliveries after 21:00 – Delivery vehicles should have signs that read, ‘Drivers carry only a limited amount of cash’ or ‘Drivers carry no cash at all’ – Print the rules of delivery on take-out menus for customers e.g. Maximum R100 in change, etc – For driver safety, avoid late-night deliveries as much as possible
• Carjackings: – Avoid parking your vehicles where there is no security – Avoid being alone in a vehicle when travelling at night – Do not stop around carjacking spots or at any secluded area – Do not pick up hitchhikers, particularly when you drive alone – Avoid distractions such as being on your cell phone – Increase caution at intersections, always keep a lookout for people loitering around your car or for any sudden activity around your car – Lock all doors while inside the vehicle – Do not to leave any valuable items in the vehicle lying around; rather put them in the glove compartment or in the boot
