Armed business robberies spike across Durban

Blue Security reported an alarming increase in armed business robberies across the greater Durban area in the past few weeks.

“Business owners should be aware that criminal attacks on retailers, manufacturers and distribution centres have been escalating. More disturbing is that the robbers act in numbers, thus increasing the danger to innocent individuals on the scene,” said Blue Security’s community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios.

Different armed gangs, one as large as 10 people, recently targeted a New Germany hardware store, a Berea business and held up security guards in Reservoir Hills.

“The worrying spike in attacks are continuing,” said Mathios.

In one incident, Blue Security’s reaction officers responded to a panic activation on Tuesday morning at a wholesale business in Umgeni Road.

The swift response ensured that the theft of goods, worth approximately R50 000, was averted.

“The on site guard raised the alarm when he spotted a suspect on the roof. It was later established that an unknown number of suspects had gained entry through the warehouse roof. The suspects had abandoned the stock on top of the building and fled,” he said.

In a separate incident on Tuesday morning, an armed robbery took place in a supermarket in Pinetown.

“SAPS and a Blue Security reaction officer arrived at the scene to discover that three armed men entered the premises and fled with a large sum of cash,” Mathios said. “No injuries were sustained and nothing else was taken.” he said.

In a third incident, a gang of six armed men targeted a business in Pinetown on Tuesday morning.

“The gang entered the industrial complex via an unlocked pedestrian gate before overpowering the onsite guard. Three of the suspects stood watch over the guard while the other three tried to force their way into the premises,” he said.

“Fortunately their attempt was unsuccessful but they stole the main-gate remote and the guard’s cellphone before making their escape in an awaiting getaway vehicle. The guard was not injured in the incident,” he said.