ARMED robbers have targeted several businesses over the past week in the Highway area, assaulting a businessman and fleeing with computers, laptops, cellphones and cash, according to Blue Security.
Blue Security operations manager, Brian Jackson, said there had been a spike in armed robberies reported in the area over the past week, possibly because criminals had started to prepare for the festive season.
A businessman was assaulted during an early morning robbery at 7.30am in Strathay Road in Westville on Tuesday, 3 November when three armed men jumped over a wall into the property and held up staff members. One of the suspects held the staff hostage while the other two suspects held up the businessman at gunpoint, demanding cash. They assaulted him with the butt of a firearm before fleeing with laptops, a cellphone, tablets and jewellery.
Jacksom said armed robbers had also targeted a business in Moodie Street in Pinetown at 7pm on Wednesday night (4 November). “Four armed men and one woman held up staff at a business and fled on foot with cash, cellphones and other valuables,” he said.
A gang of five burglars also broke into a business premises in Hawthorne Road in Westmead at 3.09am on Friday, 6 November. When the armed response officer arrived at the scene, he found the main gate had been secured with wire and five suspects running towards the back of the property. By the time he had managed to cut the wire to gain entry the suspects had fled with computers, an angle grinder, a radio and a petty cash box that contained an undisclosed sum of money.
On investigation, he found that the suspects had entered the property by cutting the electric fence at the back of the property before forcing open the front door and security gate, he said.
Jackson urged business owners to be proactive in the fight against crime ahead of the festive season, when tended to focus on crimes against businesses.
“Criminals are aware that businesses often carry a large amount of stock ahead of the festive season and that business owners will probably be handling large financial transactions as the year winds down,” he said. “We urge business owners and staff to use electronic funds transfers and to avoid keeping large sums of cash on their premises as much as possible as criminals, sometimes with inside information, will be looking for opportunities to strike at this time of the year,” he said.
Jackson advised business owners to install CCTV cameras and electric fences as well as anti-gatecrashing kits for an early warning system.
“Vigilance plays an important role in preventing your business from becoming a target, so be sure to report any suspicious individuals or vehicles that you notice loitering outside your property. Before the busy holiday period, test your alarm system and ask your security company to assess your premises to see if it may be necessary to strengthen you existing security systems,” he said.
