Cape Town -
There have been five robberies at malls and shops around Cape Town in the first 10 days of this month alone - and the crime spree targeting cellphone and jewellery stores, which began early this year, appears to be intensifying.
The mall robberies - including Canal Walk on Wednesday, and earlier this year at Longbeach Centre, Blue Route Mall, Cape Gate, Tyger Valley Centre, Canal Walk and Zewenwacht Mall - have made customers nervous.
Janine Myburgh, president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce, said the effect of the mall robberies was that shoppers’ sense of safety had been eroded, they had become wary of being in malls and would spend far less time there.
Police said that dealing with the robberies was a priority and a festive season operational plan would be launched soon.
Asked about worries that the festive season plan was being implemented too late, after months of mall robberies, police spokesman Andre Traut said: “There is no delay in policing the Western Cape and executing operational plans in this province.”
Traut said that “each and every incident of crime reported to police has been investigated, and certain crime trends have been prioritised”.
“Finer aspects of this plan will be shared with the media and the public during a planned briefing in due course.”
Andrew Anthony, Cape CEO of Business Against Crime, met police and the management of several businesses and shopping centres this week to discuss the dangerous and increasingly violent nature of mall robberies.
“Up to now, no shoppers have been shot. But the Canal Walk shootout has clearly shown the lack of regard these criminals have for the lives of others. These robbers are certainly part of a syndicate and must be stopped now before the situation escalates any further”, said Anthony.
“Adapting to the ever- changing methods of these armed robbers is proving to be a challenge. From a business point of view, we are mainly focusing on reactive measures and tighter security but police are responsible for a proactive approach and going after the syndicates responsible.”
Anthony said robbers have moved to strike just before the festive season begins and have replaced cash vehicle heists with cellphone and jewellery shop robberies.
“Not only have they started their own festive season earlier but they also changed the way they operate. In the past the criminals would go straight after cash but they’re now increasingly targeting cellphone and jewellery stores,” said Anthony.
- Saturday Argus