WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2007-06-12 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
[What is interesting is how crime changes. Criminals do not like resistance. This is proof of it. The problem is that they go for the weaker targets. Right down the pecking chain are normal households… in the end they may be the final target of criminals. Jan]
By Sharlene Packree
Tighter security at banks and malls has made restaurants, smaller stores and households mouth-watering targets for opportunistic criminals.
Johan Burger, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, believes recent incidents in Durban involving armed robberies at restaurants are indicative of the opportunistic nature of criminals.
The only way to stop this dangerous trend from escalating, said Burger, is with an increase in police visibility.
| ‘Maximum visibility equals maximum deterrence’ |
“The deterrence effect will play a major role in reducing these crimes. Maximum visibility equals maximum deterrence. Criminals will see the police and think twice about committing the crime,” he said.
Burger said criminals were now after “soft targets” as banks and shopping malls had significantly increased their security over the past year.
“Criminals will focus on areas they see as easy targets. They identify places where they can steal money and other valuables like cellphones and jewellery easily,” he said.
“There is definitely a market for these things and criminals know this. They tend to steal smaller items which have a high value,” said Burger.
Last month, several patrons and staff at restaurants in Musgrave, Glenwood and Morningside were held up by gangs of armed gunmen.
| ‘Criminals will focus on areas they see as easy targets’ |
At St Tropez in Essenwood Road, Musgrave, a gang of robbers shot and killed a patron, Marc Joubert, who had been celebrating a birthday with friends.
Foxy’s and Scooters in Glenwood, Thunder Rock Road Diner in Florida Road and Circus Circus in Musgrave have all been held up by armed robbers in the past two weeks.
Last week a brazen gang of armed robbers held up staff at the American Swiss jewellery store in West Street. But the men, who made off with jewellery estimated at R500 000, were arrested shortly afterwards.
Police have indicated that the robbery may have been opportunistic rather than planned.
Restaurants in Florida Road have formed the Florida Road Business Traders Association to tackle crime issues in the area.
Although restaurants have now tightened up their security by employing private security guards and installing CCTV cameras, they are still regarded as easy targets for brazen, gun-wielding robbers.
Co-owner of St Tropez, Lee-Ann Albers, said several changes had been made to their security since the incident.
She said they employed two security guards stationed outside the restaurant, and were using floodlights and panic buttons. They also hired another security company for armed response.
“Staff are now more vigilant. Our doors are always locked. We just want to make sure our patrons and staff are safe,” she said.
Police spokesperson Supt Vincent Mdunge said although visible policing would help decrease certain types of crimes, criminals would still find opportunities to commit them.