As the excitement over Christmas mounts, police have warned people to be cautious when doing their shopping.
Shoppers were likely to be targets of crime, said Silverton police spokesperson Jan Sepato.
He said consumers should avoid carrying large amounts of money while shopping.
Decline any assistance from strangers at ATMs.
“If people need help at an ATMs, they should consult the bank security or any authorities from inside the bank,” he said.
Stokvels or money-saving schemes were advised to distribute money in secured places preferably close to the police station.
Sepato also warned of discount scams where people posed as shops assistants offering illegal discounts to customers only to run off with the money.
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“These are random individuals who are usually inside the shop and dress like the staff members,” he said.
“They will offer you a backdoor discount and after you have handed the money to them, they will insist that you meet them outside the shop to get your items. They then run off with your money.”
Try to shop on days less busy and try to minimise the amount of luggage you carry.
“Parents should avoid doing shopping with a lot of children at once as this can be distracting and criminals may take advantage,” Sepato said.
A Christmas message from the Silverton police:
“We would like to wish members of the public a merry and safe Christmas. Do not drink and drive, if you have had too much to drink, arrange to sleep over at someone’s place. Rather be safe than sorry.
“Always report any suspicious behaviour to the police. Let us make this festive season a crime-free one.”
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