The Shopping Centre Armed Robbery Thread....

reactor_sa said:
I heard them say 25 or 28 cellphones on the radio earlier.
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People are willing to buy stolen goods, which is why these thiefs are stealing items that are in demand. People who buy stolen goods are just as culpable as those who rob and steal.
 
HARRISMITH GUARD KILLED DURING ROBBERY

A Coin Security guard was shot dead during a robbery at the Harrismith shopping complex on Monday, Free State police said.

"It is alleged that on 22 September 2014 at approximately 12:45, four suspects ambushed Coin Security in Harrismith, and shot and killed a security guard on the scene," said Sergeant Mmako Mophiring.

The group fled with an undisclosed amount of money and a shotgun belonging to the officer, Mophiring said.


Source : Sapa /kn/ks/lp
Date : 22 Sep 2014 16:19
 
I am still waiting to see a viable proposition by SAPS and / or Government detailing something that is going to work to cut down this growing scourge. In many ways this form of crime is symptomatic of the state of the country and failure to dealing with unemployment.
 
Don't the containers which security guards carry cash in have a mechanism to dye the cash if it forced open thus rendering the cash useless??
 
I heard in the next few days to weeks there will some progress with this.
I can tell you its definitely organised crime involved, these guys operate like military units and know how to shoot.

Wont go into too much detail but these guys are also apparently using firearms bought from a certain store (not Dave Sheer) that is being watched by not just our security agencies.
Woud say more but then I know where this thread will go
All what I heard, who knows if its true
 
marine1 said:
I heard in the next few days to weeks there will some progress with this.
I can tell you its definitely organised crime involved, these guys operate like military units and know how to shoot.

Wont go into too much detail but these guys are also apparently using firearms bought from a certain store (not Dave Sheer) that is being watched by not just our security agencies.
Woud say more but then I know where this thread will go
All what I heard, who knows if its true
Click to expand...

Well lets just hope the authorities do something drastic soon.
 
@marine1, if what you say comes about, it definitely gives us all hope.
 
Insurers reassess Gauteng mall risk

Possible premium increases post robberies.

GAUTENG – The recent spate of mall robberies in Gauteng has insurance companies worried, with some indicating possible premium increases and heightened security requirements for cellphone and jewellery shops.

Gauteng police have published details of 11 incidents of mall robberies in Gauteng between August and September – eight of which were cellphone stores. Most recently, three armed suspects posing as customers robbed an Altech Autopage store in the Glen Shopping Centre situated in Johannesburg South. They stole 15 cellphones to the value of R34 000.

Three Apple iStores were hit on August 13, 14 and 15, one of these is also located in the Glen and the others in Cresta Shopping Centre and Centurion Mall.

Alexander Forbes Insurance (AFI) issued a statement last week warning that the “recent spike in robberies and attacks at shopping malls” would increase insurance claim costs. “Turnaround time between claim event and settlement is also likely to increase during this time of increased criminal activity,” according to Hillary Magede, senior manager for business insurance at AFI.

The reason for this is because these claims require investigation to eliminate suspicion of collusion between staff and robbers. “The investigations may also serve to rule out involvement of supply chain partners given that the stolen products require activation by experts, and that thieves appear to have knowledge of stock levels when targeting a store,” Magede comments.

Meanwhile, OUTsurance says it is currently reviewing its cover for businesses such as cellphone stores and will look at options, “such as an increased security requirement”. The direct insurer, whose majority shareholder is Rand Merchant Insurance Holdings (JSE: RMI), already has a number of requirements in place for jewellery stores, including stipulating the type of safe in which goods should be locked after business hours.

Santam, the country’s largest short-term insurer, confirmed it is monitoring the situation to establish if it will be an on-going problem or whether “it is a specific syndicate or two that will be stopped by authorities”.

“We have seen that these types of incidents tend to increase the closer we get to the festive season,” notes Shehnaz Somers, Santam’s head of commercial lines underwriting. “Each client is underwritten based on its individual claims record, specific circumstances and the security measures it has in place,” she explains.

Somers says that “underwriting measures” may be applied in malls where incidents have become an established trend and mall management does not increase security, but this would be client-dependent.

Keep away from mall exits

Insurers agree that cellphone and jewellery stores should try and position themselves centrally in malls, since shops located near to exits and entrances provide quick getaways for thieves.

“A store with easy entry and exit access may attract a higher premium than a store situated in the centre of the mall where an easy getaway may be difficult,” says Natasha Kawulesar, head of client relations at OUTsurance.

“Security gates at each shop’s entrance, where each client is individually buzzed in, does [also] assist in reducing risk,” Somers says.

“We would like to see man trap doors installed in these high risk shops, like we see in the banks. That would be ideal. Obviously CCTV can play a role; silent panic buttons are also advised,” adds Tony Tsuen, manager of commercial lines at Mutual & Federal, Old Mutual’s short-term insurance arm. “We generally find that security is lacking or inadequate in most malls,” he says.

Santam, Mutual & Federal and OUTsurance are among South Africa’s largest short-term insurers, collectively accounting for 41% of the sector’s gross written premium in 2013, according to figures from KPMG.

Rate hikes to come?

Magede believes it to be likely that insurers will increase rates for targeted businesses located in high exposure sections of shopping malls. “These shops may eventually have to be insured through specialist products against theft and robberies,” she explains.

However, Mutual & Federal says it is not looking at increasing premiums for cellphone shops located in malls, following the robberies in Gauteng. “Risks are evaluated as and when they happen and we will look at every individual case when it is brought to us,” Tsuen says
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http://www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-financial/insurers-reassess-gauteng-mall-risk
 
Man dressed as cop robs Shoprite

Cape Town - Shoprite Fish Hoek was forced to close for business on Wednesday after armed robbers, one dressed in police uniform, assaulted a security guard and stole an undisclosed sum of cash.

When staff arrived for work at 7am and others at noon, they were told to wait outside the building while police scoured the crime scene.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said the incident occurred at 6.45am.

“This office can confirm that the circumstances surrounding an armed robbery are being investigated after four suspects robbed a chain retail store of an undisclosed amount of cash in Main Road, Fish Hoek, this morning at around 6.45am.

“A security guard was struck over the head (with a firearm) and sustained minor injuries.

“One of the suspects was dressed in police uniform and at this stage it cannot be established if he is indeed a member of SAPS.”

He added that police uniforms were often stolen or obtained illegally and used “from time to time” by criminals.

The robbers fled in a white double cab LDV and are still at large.

This month the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa reported that retail robberies across South Africa had reached their highest recorded level. Retail robberies increased significantly, by 30 percent over the period April 1, 2013 to March 31, compared with the same period the previous year.

Several robberies involving suspects dressed in police uniform were also reported this year.

In July Mitchells Plain police warned motorists to be on high alert, especially in Dagbreek Road and Weltevreden Parkway.Reports said armed robbers dressed in police uniform were robbing people on the roads. At the time a resident reported an attempted robbery by men dressed in uniform.

In June armed robbers dressed in police uniform targeted an ATM at Promenade Mall, Mitchells Plain, and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Security staff were tied up and assaulted.

In May five men in full police uniform and with handguns entered a jewellery shop in Green Point and told the jeweller they wanted an item made for their lieutenant.

They then stole diamonds, other gems and jewellery worth thousands of rand.

At the time witnesses said the men looked like real police officers and carried radios and firearms - which they did not use.

Four Tanzanians were arrested in May in connection with the Green Point heist and were charged with impersonating police officers and armed robbery.

[email protected]

Cape Argus
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http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/man-dressed-as-cop-robs-shoprite-1.1759034#.VC0l-haRZ8E
 
Is it getting worse then? It's certainly not getting better. It's freaking scary living in SA this year
 
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