Improved security for banks and cash-in-transit vehicles has seen robbers turn to the retail industry, which has suffered a R12-million loss so far this year, a security expert said on Wednesday.
This is up from the total loss for 2003 of R9-million.
Said Kobus Kuyler, general manager of safety and security at Pick ‘n Pay: ”As the reduced cash levels in banks and increased security make banks, cash centres and the cash-in-transit industry less attractive, robberies may be deflected towards the retail industry.”
The situation had, however, shown some improvement in the second half of the year, Kuyler told delegates at the Effective Consumer Response (ECR) South Africa annual conference in Sandton.
ECR is part of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa.
The retail industry has learnt from previously targeted industries that close cooperation among retailers and with the police is crucial to deal with crime, Kuyler said.
In light of this, ECR met with police in the heavily targeted Gauteng.
”This has led to a coordinated approach in prevention programmes.
”We now have more visible policing at shopping centres, vehicle patrols, air support, dedicated detectives, professional support are available at crime scenes, and there is meaningful information-sharing between units, as well as information-sharing between our industry and the South African Police Service.”
In the first half of the year, robberies were on the increase compared with the previous year.
”In May 2003, for example, a total of 11 incidents of robbery were reported via the police to the ECR’s crime-prevention programme. This year it was dramatically up to 29.”
September, however, showed an improvement from 2003’s total of 17 incidents to seven this year.
”The success boils down to one thing … sharing of information through the ECR with the police — it’s as simple as that,” Kuyler said.
He is optimistic this downward trend will continue. — Sapa