Second-hand goods outlet in Silverton robbed of undisclosed amount of cash and goods

Five armed suspects robbed a second-hand goods outlet in Silverton of an undisclosed amount of cash and goods on Tuesday, March 12.

According to the police, the store is located on the corner of Pretoria Road and Van Wyk Street.

Spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk said the police are investigating a case of armed business robbery.

Van Dyk said an employee said a man entered the store while he was still assisting a few customers.

“The cashier alleged that one man entered the shop carrying a bag.” A few minutes later four other people also entered the shop.

According to Van Dyk, the cashier said the four men pretended to be customers. The first man with the bag then gave them firearms.

Everyone was told to lie down on the floor.

The suspects robbed the customers and employees at gunpoint.

“The suspects demanded the cellphone cabinet keys and took cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash from the till.”

Van Dyk said the men stole jewellery, laptops, and tablets and fled on foot.

“No one was injured and no shot was fired.”

Van Dyk said all leads are being followed up.

Specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis said pawn shops and second-hand dealers’ outlets are mostly used by people who steal goods and pawn them out for cash.

Bolhuis added these shops are scrutinised by the same people to see if there’s a lot of money or a lot to loot.

“Most people who pawn out goods in most cases are the ones who go back to the shops and loot them.

“Most junkies, thieves and alcoholics use pawn shops to sell goods they have no ownership of.”

Bolhuis said petty theft is contributing to the high crime rates in the country.

He advised that pawn shops also follow proper procedures before taking goods from people as this contributes to petty theft.

“It must be noted that pawn shops need to document everything properly before taking goods from anyone.”

He said the following should be done by pawn shops before accepting goods from people trying to make a quick buck:

– CCTV footage must record the transaction.

– The pawn shop needs to keep proper documents and do the correct bookwork before taking goods which might have been stolen.

– Pawn shops must demand identity documents and signatures from people pawning goods.

– The shop must ask the people to provide proof of ownership for those goods.

Bolhuis said the pawn shops are also being victimised as robbers watch their routines and operating styles. In this way, they know when there’s a lot of loot.

“Pawn shops should be very careful when taking in goods because in most cases junkies or thieves pawn stolen goods, and it is a crime in South Africa to be in possession of stolen property.”

Second-hand dealers need to be more careful when taking goods as they might be part of a crime syndicate.

According to Bolhuis, pawn shops should not take goods from people who cannot account where they got them from.

“Before buying anything you need to follow the evaluation, identification, testing and risk analyses.”

He offered these safety tips:

Physical transactions:

-Meet in busy public spaces during daylight hours to minimise potential risks associated with fraudulent activity.

– Thoroughly inspect the item in question before concluding the transaction to ensure its condition, authenticity, and accompanying documentation (if any).

– For high-value transactions, request legal documentation such as receipts, warranties, or proof of ownership to safeguard your rights as a consumer.

– Seek guidance from experts for complex purchases, such as real estate, vehicles, or high-value electronics.

Online transactions:

– Conduct thorough research on sellers, read customer reviews and establish their credibility before proceeding with any transaction.

– Only engage with established online marketplaces that have strict user verification processes and top-notch security measures.

– Exercise caution when selecting payment options and use reliable payment gateways or services that offer comprehensive buyer protection.

– Be wary when sharing personal information and watch out for phishing or suspicious requests for sensitive information.

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