Robberies Spike Ahead Of Festive Season

s the festive season fast approaches, business operators have been urged to up security at their premises. The call follows the recent spate of armed robberies in the Mogoditshane policing area.

Mogoditshane police station commander, superintendent Russ Letsebe said they are investigating an armed robbery case in which criminals recently robbed Engen Filling Station in Nkoyaphiri of P36,000.

He stated that the unknown suspects, who are still at large, blasted a safe at the Engen Filling Station getting away with the money. Letsebe revealed that a search has been launched to locate and arrest the suspects. He, however, called on the business community to be on the lookout as armed robbery incidents are on the increase. He said such cases usually spiral out of control as the festive season approaches.

“Recently, we recorded a similar incident in which armed robbers blasted a safe at Chicken Licken at Turn Right Mall and went away with undisclosed amounts of money. That incident occurred weeks after another filling station’s safe was blasted by armed robbers, also in Mogoditshane,” he said. Letsebe said they suspect that a syndicate of armed robbers targeting businesses is out on the prowl hence the call for the business community to be cautious. He stated that incidents of armed robberies are of great concern and if they continue unabated, they have the potential of deterring investors from coming into the country.

He advised business owners to engage more security guards, hire honest employees and instal alarms to avoid falling prey to criminals targeting businesses.

The police chief also stated that the business community should prioritise security, stating that whenever an expensive commodity is put in the place, security measures should be considered to guard against any theft. He urged the business community to help the police to fight crime by being security conscious.

Letsebe further expressed concern that failure to instal security devices at their properties proves that the business community is not taking issues of security seriously.

He further pleaded with the business community not to keep large sums of cash on their premises to avoid being targeted by criminals.

He urged business operators to deposit cash regularly throughout the day. He also called on the business community to tighten the security of their operations by installing CCTV cameras in order to monitor people’s movements in and around their businesses.