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: 2008-12-12 Time: 17:00:10 Posted By: Jan
By Arthi Sanpath
The South African National Defence Force, police and private security will patrol KwaZulu-Natal shopping centres this festive season in a bid to ensure shoppers’ safety and keep crime at bay.
The heightened security measures have been put in place after increasingly brazen acts by criminals.
Jody Nair, chairperson of the KZN Business Against Crime (BAC) organisation said this year centres were using various methods to stop criminal activities, and said shoppers should not be afraid if they see a heavily-armed security official literally drop into the centre.
“We have brought in the South African Defence Force’s Air Wing again this year for highly visible security. Last year we had an incident-free period when the special force was deployed,” said Nair.
The Air Force will be making scheduled drop-ins at malls from next week, as the festive season gets into full swing.
Last month, a gang of heavily-armed robbers on motorbikes robbed a Brooklyn Mall jewellery store in Pretoria.
Using assault rifles and hammers they smashed their way into the store and stole an estimated R2-million worth of goods.
Earlier this week, three people were killed and two seriously wounded during a cash-in-transit heist near the Gateway Shopping centre.
Nair said the BAC, as part of its Shopping Centre Security Initiative, spent the past few months identifying the potential threats at centres such as armed robbery, pick-pocketing and shoplifting.
This year, said Nair, centre tenants were trained in:
* Cash management policies – tenants were told to deposit money into bank accounts at least twice a day
* Vetting of casual staff, especially checking with their previous employers; careful management of CCTV cameras
* Setting up a joint operations centre to be used by the centres’ private security, Metro Police, and SAPS.
“Volunteers and security guards have undergone intensive training this past year,” said Nair.
To reinforce the private security present, Nair said BAC has partnered with the municipality’s Safer Cities department.
“We have a partnership with the municipality’s Safer Cities department and the department of community safety and liaison on a volunteer social crime prevention programme,” he said.
The volunteers were trained by the Greater Manchester Police from Britain this year and will be based around shopping centres.
“The international models on policing showed us that the community based people would be the best eyes and ears in terms of crime prevention,” he said.
Adrian Raw, manager of the Gateway Theatre of Shopping Centre, said they improved security measures, and that Metro Police would be using the Gateway Charge Office as a satellite office over the December period.
He said that security staff would be in contact with the Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre security and Umhlanga Ridge Management officers.
Sli Dumakude, marketing manager for the Umlazi Megacity Shopping Centre, said the centre arranged for police to regularly patrol the centre during the festive season.
“We also have undercover security, and safety marshalls who will be on the ground,” she said.
Dumakude added that pickpocketing increased at this time of year, and cautioned people to be especially wary when they used the ATM facilities.
Lynette Ntuli, general manager of the Pavilion, said because petty theft and card fraud increased at this time of year, the centre increased the number of security personnel.
There had been instances where criminals in malls had used excessive force, she said.
“A number of measures and deterrents are in place to lessen the risk from an electronic, mechanical and physical guarding perspective in the centre,” she said.
Vanessa Blevins, general manager of La Lucia Mall, said: “Over the past year we have substantially increased our CCTV capabilities to prevent crime and catch criminals. Spot checks on vehicles entering and exiting the mall will be done randomly.”
Personal safety was also highlighted by shopping centre management.
Chatsworth Shopping Centre marketing manager Swastika Juggernath said: “Women need to be more cautious when entering the lavatories, especially during the extended trading hours.”