Mapula Sibanda A security briefcase fitted with 41 000 volts of electricity, a=20 piercing alarm, and a red smoke dye-bomb is becoming popular=20 among businessmen transporting cash takings in the=20 Johannesburg central business district area. Looking like an ordinary black briefcase, Safe Case operates in=20 such a way that only the authorised bearer can carry it. In=20 unfamiliar hands, an alarm goes off after three seconds drawing=20 attention to the snatchers. Seven seconds later volts shoot through=20 the entire case and, after another eight seconds, the smoke bomb=20 goes off. All this should be enough to make any thief abandon the=20
The non-toxic, red smoke automatically stains the money inside=20 the briefcase and leaves permanent marks on hands, faces, clothes=20 and car interiors which makes it easy for police to identify thieves. Designed by Clarke Rosslien of the Safe Case Corporation (SCC)=20 in the East Rand for the transport of valuables and money, the=20 case first came on the market a year ago. It has been purchased by=20 individuals, private businessmen and large companies.=20 The names of the Safe Case owners are registered with the=20 Reserve Bank so that spoilt money can be replaced after attempted=20
Proof of identification is required for this transaction so that only=20 real owners of the money are able to be reimbursed. “This case is one of the many devices we manufacture that are=20 safe for the user. Once a case is snatched, it will allow the thief to=20 travel 15 to 30 metres before its features are activated, thus=20 allowing the owner to be clear of reprisal from the snatcher,”=20 SCC’s general manager, Mike Lodge said..=20 He also said that since being on the market there were no reports=20 of accidental triggerings of the case. Lodge maintained that SCC manufactures and supplies “security=20 systems that fight back” in line with the company’s logo. “There are not enough fighting-back security systems in our=20 market, as people are used to sticking their hands up and letting=20 the thieves get away with their valuables,” he said. Other positive response products manufactured by SCC include:=20 an anti-hijack gas terminator, which emits pepper gas and dye=20 once the car-jacker is inside; and the power safe, which activates a=20 dye if thieves try to open it.=20 For security reasons Lodge could not give details about how the=20 case is activated during attempted robberies.=20 The case costs R2 300, an amount Lodge claimed was cheap=20 when compared to the cost of the security services of any cash-in- transit company. Police spokesperson, warrant officer Andy Pieke, said the=20 exploding case has thus far been successful, surprising many a=20 bag snatcher. “Every device which helps to combat and defeat criminals has to=20 be welcomed,” he said.=20