ARMED robbers held up staff at a Morningside business and robbed them of cash and other valuables last Thursday.
Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said a robber had entered the premises in Stamfordhill Road at 5pm and pretended to be browsing through the store.
“One of the suspects entered the store alone and asked a staff member a question regarding the goods for sale but when his two accomplices, armed with firearms, entered the store he pulled out a knife and held up the employee,” he said.
The gang then forced the staff downstairs in the building and bound their hands and legs with cable ties before robbing them of cash, a watch, a cellphone and fleeing with cash from the store’s takings for the day. The staff managed to crawl upstairs to alert the public who untied them.
Durban Central SAPS attended the scene of the crime.
Jackson urged business owners to be vigilant ahead of the festive season when criminal activity such as burglaries, robberies and shoplifting spiked.
“Criminals know that businesses carry additional stock ahead of the festive season and that there are lots of large financial transactions taking place. We advise business owners and employees to use electronic fund transfers and to avoid keeping large sums of cash on the premises as criminals, sometimes with inside information, seek opportunities to strike at this time of the year,” he said.
Jackson advised business owners to consider installing CCTV cameras as a deterrent as well as electric fencing and anti-gatecrashing kits as early warning systems.
Criminals often stake out a premises before striking which provides business owners with an opportunity to take preventative action.
“Vigilance plays a vital role in crime prevention so be sure to report any suspicious individuals or vehicles that you notice loitering on or near your business premises and ask your security company to assess your alarm system to see if there are any weaknesses that can be addressed to beef up its intruder detection systems,” he said.
