UPDATE: Security upgrades at north centre

Security upgrades have been made to the Wingtip Crossing shopping centre in the north after it was hit by two robberies in two weeks in June.

“Yes, we’ve built and painted the speed humps,” said shopping centre security provider Rapid Tactical Response managing director Ewald van Zyl.

In June Van Zyl said they would construct large speed bumps at the entrance and exit of the centre to slow vehicles down.

“In spite of our best efforts, some criminals may not be put off by our security measures and other deterrent efforts,” he said.

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He said that the next best step would be to “delay completion of the theft”.

“The longer the criminal takes to complete the theft, the greater the probability that they will be observed and apprehended.

“Barriers such as speed humps are devices that delay a criminal’s activities,” Van Zyl said.

He said another application had been made to the metro for the installation of boom gates at the centre.

Previously, Van Zyl had said boom gates at the centre were not on the cards.

“Unfortunately installing boom gates is not a possibility as the centre does not have stacking space for cars as they enter or exit the centre.”

He said once the metro approved its application to install the boom gates they would do so.

In June, two people assaulted and robbed a woman of her handbag and a large sum of money she had withdrawn from an ATM.

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.

Days earlier, the Sinoville CPF and police arrested seven people for an armed robbery of a clothing store in the centre.

The robbers were spotted by a security guard while they were loading stolen items into their vehicle, according to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk.

“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.

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“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 men face charges of business robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

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