Midrand police communications officer Constable Matome Tlamela said, “The centre managers, together with the car guard managers, have been invited to attend the security forum meeting at Midrand Police Station on numerous occasions. This initiation was extended in order to plan a strategy to curb the theft out of motor vehicles that is currently so rife in our community. The centre managers and car guards’ supervisors failed to attend the security forum meetings.”
Tlamela noted there has been a significant increase with regard to theft out of motor vehicles at Midrand’s shopping centres’ parking lots, namely Carwarld Lifestyle Centre, San Ridge Square, Midway Mews, Spar Vorna Valley, Noordwyk Spar, The Boulders Shopping Centre and Midrand City.
“The community must be aware that the representatives from these centres, as well as their security and car guards, have failed to address the criminal activities that are occurring on their premises. It is our opinion that the management does not care about the safety of the community while they are shopping at their centres. The car guards are present when the crime relating to theft out of motor vehicles occurs. The question is, what are they guarding?”
Tlamela said the Midrand police have put in place mechanisms to address theft out of motor vehicles but more can be done with the co-operation of the centre management, security and car guards.
“Our appeal goes out to all the shoppers at the above centres to be extra vigilant when parking their car in parking areas,” added Tlamela.
