Police tighten security at malls following attacks by gangs
Following several attacks at shopping malls in Gauteng, recently, Benoni SAPS members have tightened security in anticipation of such attacks.
Though none has occurred in this area so far, there have been 11 robberies at malls across Gauteng since mid-August.
Robbers are said to be targeting Apple iStores and cellphone shops.
Gauteng police spokesman Brig Neville Malila said that visibility around the malls, which includes deployment of armoured vehicles, will be key in fighting the scourge.
Police arrested five men believed to be part of the gangs in Brixton and Doornfontein, following raids on September 9.
Acting Benoni SAPS Cluster commander Brig Poobalan Subbiah said local police stations are already putting precautionary measures in place and will go beyond police visibility.
“There is a WhatsApp group where we share information; we have listed managers and security of all the shopping centres in Benoni,” said Subbiah.
He added that said the crime prevention unit meets with mall managers to come up with other ways to fight robberies.
“For instance, we encourage all malls to install facial and vehicle registration recognition software,”he said.
This kind of software is able to detect profiled criminals’ faces and the registration plates of vehicles used in crime as soon as they enter mall premises.
This will alert mall managers and security, who will then notify the police.
