Mall safety encouraged during festive season in Bluff
The following public safety guidelines will help you keep your children safe at shopping malls.
As the school year draws to an end, an influx of visitors to the policing area of Brighton Beach is expected.
With the wave of locals and visitors to places including Bluff, police have prepared for an increase in criminal activities.
On Black Friday, 24 November, Brighton Beach SAPS launched its festive season mall safety awareness campaign at The Bluff Towers and Hill Side Mall.
Safety for children at shopping malls
▪Do not leave babies or young children unattended or under the supervision of a minor child (under 18 years) in a car. When leaving your child in a motor vehicle under supervision, ensure the vehicle keys are kept with the driver. Ensure that there is sufficient ventilation for the occupant of the car, yet the windows must not be rolled down half way. The children must be conditioned not to talk to strangers or even open any vehicle doors in the absence of the adult.
▪Do not let your child stray from you inside the mall, or even inside a shop. Your child can be snatched from you in less than 20seconds.
▪Make a wrist band for your child which reflects your contact number only, this can be used if your child has strayed from you, to reach you when the child has been found by another person.
▪Mothers with babies/toddlers in strollers must ensure that the stroller is always close to their body, when purchasing items the child should face you, even if you are just browsing through items. Do not let a toddler sit in a shopping trolley either, unless he is visible to you all the time, do not leave your child’s side.
▪Do not accept gifts or sweets from strangers for your child.
READ: Bluff police issue ATM fraud alert ahead of festive season
▪Do not be distracted by a stranger starting up a conversation, even if it is a woman. Remember criminals work in pairs, one distracts you and the other snatches your child.
▪Ensure that you have a current photo of your child, this will help the police in the search for your child should he/she be abducted.
▪Make a mental note of the clothing your child/children are wearing. This will help the security at the mall to announce lost children, security and shoppers can also assist in the search and be on the lookout for your child. This will also assist the police to search for your child if he/she is abducted.
▪Children must not be allowed to visit public toilets without adult supervision or without the assistance of a person under the age of 18yrs. Also the person accompanying the child should enter the public toilet facility and not stand outside the entrance to such facility. The responsible person should stand outside the toilet door from the moment the child enters the toilet cubicle until he/she exists.
▪Take extra caution at escalators with toddlers, watch for loose shoe laces. Every escalator has an emergency stop button on the top and bottom, press this in case of an emergency. Use a lift instead of an escalator when you are shopping with a stroller.
