South African Provinces With The Most Robberies

With the release of the crime statistics for 2014, the increase in robberies – mall robberies in particular has created great concern all across the country. There have been 8 reported attacks in three weeks. This indicates a new trend within criminal behaviour. Besides the new trend, common robbery is also prevalent across the country. Very few cities and towns are safe because there is always the risk of getting robbed of your personal goods. This list focuses on the provinces with the highest rates of robberies.

Gauteng

According to news reports Gauteng malls have been robbed 11 times since August 13th. On one of the instances at the Glen shopping centre in Ormonde, Johannesburg three armed robbers stole 15 cellphones worth R34 000. In another case a G4S security guard was shot dead when four men robbed him and his colleagues of cash they had collected from the Diepkloof Black Chain shopping centre in Soweto. The police suspect that all the robbers had inside information, either from employees or security guards.

Western Cape

The most common robberies in the Western Cape are mall robberies. Most of these robbers target jewellery stores and cell phone shops. They normally pose as customers prior to the robbery and even hit if there are clients inside. According to news reports, So far police have arrested 15 people over the past few months for either being part of the robberies or for illegal possession of the stolen cell phones. In some instances, the security doesn’t know about the robbery because the suspects leave the premises with a bag with the cell phones and they do not make a scene when they leave. Several shopping malls, including Canal Walk, Tyger Valley and Zewenwacht, have been hit by robbers over the past few months.

Free State

Free State police stations have had many cases opened on the account of robberies. The robberies might on have been as big as the mall robberies that have been taking place in the country, but the amount of small robberies amount to quite a large number. These include common robberies, ash in transit robberies and bank robberies. The most recent cases reported was an incident where paramedics were summoned onto a scene where they were held at gun point on arrival and robbed of their cell phones. The two paramedics had to receive counselling after the incident.

KwaZulu-Natal

KZN is another place that is infested with mall robberies to the extent that Durban police have urged people who work in malls and shop owners to be on alert of any suspicious customers and behaviours in the mall and in their shops. The concern not only being for the retailers but also for the people who fill malls every day. One of the main reasons for malls to be seen as targets is because they are seen as not being as risky as bank robberies and cash in transit vehicles. The security systems at malls are not a strict. According to Sane Ndlovu, the spokes person of Gateway shopping centre in Umhlanga, they will be increasing security for the festive season that is ahead of us.