Wingtip Crossing shopping centre in Montana is due to undergo security upgrades after it was hit by two robberies in two weeks.
“We will be putting up large speed bumps at the entrance and exit to slow down any vehicles exiting the centre,” said Rapid Tactical Response managing director Ewald van Zyl.
Rapid Tactical Response is the shopping centre’s security service provider.
He said the installation of boom-gates was “not a possibility”.
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“The centre does not have stacking space for cars as they enter or exit the centre,” said Van Zyl.
He said speed bumps would at least delay criminals if they try to flee after committing crimes.
“This will not prevent an incident, but will definitely help to make Wingtip Crossing a less attractive target,” he said.
This follows after a woman was assaulted and robbed of her handbag and a large sum of money she had withdrawn from an ATM last week.
Two persons pounced on the woman who had just withdrawn the money.
Van Zyl said the crime did not start at the centre, but “outside from where the woman was followed”.
“The final stages of the robbery unfortunately occurred in the parking lot of Wingtip. It was all over in less than 30 seconds,” he said.
Rekord learned the woman and a car guard sustained serious injuries in the robbery.
Last week, the Sinoville CPF and police arrested seven people for an armed robbery at a clothing store in the centre.
The robbers were spotted by a security guard while they were loading the stolen items into their vehicle, according to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk.
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“He immediately alerted police and other guards. The robbers tried to use their vehicle to escape, but were blocked,” he said.
Van Dyk said the robbers then abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot.
“The suspects began firing at the police when they noticed they were being chased. Some of them tried to hide at Montana hospital but police, together with community members, managed to find them,” he said.
The local CPF and community patrollers’ efforts were hailed by the community safety department.
“The Sinoville CPF has demonstrated the critical role of this structure in crime-fighting initiatives within the province,” said safety department head Yoliswa Makhasi.
“Their achievement demonstrates that our call for active citizenry in the fight against crime is bearing fruit.”
She said stolen cellphones, two vehicles and several firearms were recovered.
The group of men face charges of business robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
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