LISTEN: Mall safety tips for the festive season
Shopping malls across KZN have beefed up their security this festive season, following the recent spate of robberies at some of the major shopping centres. Speaking to Newswatch ahead of the Christmas rush, various mall managers have confirmed the inclusion of additional security guards and security measures - in a bid to minimize the risks of shoppers and businesses from becoming the targets of theft.
With Christmas just a few days away, tens of thousands of people will be visiting their local malls to get some last-minute shopping done. And with the increased footfall to the various malls, comes the added risk of petty theft, and more serious crime.
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In an attempt to ensure optimum shopper safety this festive season, various malls have embarked on enhanced safety programmes - in an attempt to prevent criminal activity in and around their premises.
Shoppers at the Galleria Mall in Durban's Amanzimtoti suburb can rest assured when it comes to parking their vehicles in relative safety. Management have implemented a new license plate recognition system - which has already picked up one cloned licence plate.
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General Manager Kurt Hoggan says this is a first for the mall.
"It will pick up any wanted cars or any cars used in crime - which is linked directly to the SAPS and Metro departments. So I think we have beefed up security just to assist us with all the crowds that we expect to come to our mall," he said.
Hoggan adds that they have also set up a remote security station in the mall - near the food court - in the hopes that increased visibility of security at the mall will make would-be criminals think twice about targeting shoppers there.
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Meanwhile, management at the Pavilion Shopping Mall in Westville will be working in conjunction with the SAPS, the defence force, as well as Business Against Crime - to ensure shopper safety these holidays. The joint operation centre will be based at the mall, and will be manned by at least one of the bodies at all times.
Centre manager Nisha Kemraj says they have also increased the number of parking attendants at the mall, as well as additional cleaning staff.
"Just having extra bodies around doesn't necessarily help with curbing crime. It's also about educating people on the simple do's and don'ts, and how to prevent these things from actually happening. My recommendation is that people need to be very alert when entering or leaving a shopping centre because your best defense is common sense," she said.
LISTEN: Kemraj has some additional safety tips for shoppers this festive period: