As the festive season approaches, police in the province would like to urge business owners to be vigilant and proactive in a bid to curb business robberies. A number of successes were achieved on cases which were reported last week.
In one of the incidents on Wednesday, 23 October 2019 in Hartbeesfontein, three suspects attempted to enter a liquor shop in the morning. Upon realising that the shop was not yet opened, the suspects went to the owner’s house which is close by and pretended to be clients. The business owner accompanied the suspects to his business and unlocked the shop. It was at that point that the suspects pointed him with a firearm, took cash and fled the scene with their getaway vehicle as well as the victim’s Inyathi panel van.
A car chase ensued after the police were alerted about the incident. Subsequently, one of the suspects’ vehicle; a Toyota Etios, was found at about 08:35 parked next to the road and one suspect was arrested. Further investigations led the police to the cemetery in Hartbeesfontein where another suspect was arrested at approximately 09:35.
The third suspect was arrested in the afternoon in Klerksdorp by the investigation team. Furthermore, the victim’s panel van was recovered the next day in Klerksdorp.
Kedisaletse Melato (43), Mandal Miya (31) and Ratau Moreki (43) appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Friday 25 October 2019, on a charge of business robbery. They will remain in custody until their next court appearance in Hartbeesfontein Circuit Court on Tuesday, 29 October 2019.
Business owners are requested to take precautionary measures and apply the following safety tips to prevent business robberies:
Maintain visibility throughout the store.
Develop a cash control programme and avoid keeping large sums of cash in the store.
Be discreet in cash counting and bank deposits.
Do not visit the bank on the same date at the same time.
Take precautions during opening and closing times. Have at least two employees to open and close the business.
Invest in a security alarm system with a mobile panic button and install a robbery alarm as this is a strong deterrent.
Do not release personal information to strangers.
Keep purses and personal valuables locked in desks or lockers.
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