Johannesburg - Retail robberies increased by almost a third in a year, the Consumer Goods Council of SA (CGCSA) said on Friday.
“The continued targeting of the retail sector by organised crime syndicates is of considerable concern to the industry,” head of the CGCSA's consumer goods crime risk initiative Graham Wright said in a statement.
The organisation found that retail robberies grew 30 percent over the period April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, compared with the previous financial year.
Financial losses through these robberies grew 32 percent.
These trends continued into this year, with retail robberies now reaching their highest recorded level.
Wright said: “We are, however, heartened by the 14 percent drop in jewellery robberies reported to CGCSA, as well as the reduction of 50 percent in losses experienced by this industry.”
Burglaries in the retail industry dropped six percent, with losses from this type of crime having dropped 45 percent.
Wright encouraged members of the industry to share information and help develop solutions to retail crime.
National crime statistics were released by national police commissioner Riah Phiyega on Friday.
The national statistics revealed that business robbery increased 13.7 percent in the 2013/2014 financial year. - Sapa