Once again, South Africa is entering the busy festive shopping season ahead of the annual Christmas and New Year holiday period. The Crime Risk Initiative (CRI) of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) takes this opportunity to advise both shop and mall owners, as well as consumers, to be vigilant in light of the potential risk of criminal activity.

Statistics show that there has been an increase in such incidences as Armed Robberies, Burglaries and Cash in Transit Robberies as well as Associated Robberies, also known as ‘follow-home’ robberies in the period to September 2016 compared with the same period in 2015. While mall and shop owners continue to implement tactical and operational measures to protect their properties and the shopping public, we call for continued vigilance.

The security measures that mall and shop owners are implementing are being reviewed regularly to take into account new threats and also to further improve security of malls. The primary aim is to ensure a safe shopping environment for consumers.

We are pleased that mall and shop owners are also closely working with the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) and other security organisations to protect businesses and consumers. In this respect, we would like to urge consumers to assist by:

Not carrying large sums of money on them

Always locking their vehicles and make sure they doors are locked before they leave their vehicles

Ensure that valuables are safely put away and not in plain sight

Be alert while using ATMs

Report suspicious activity or persons when at shopping malls or shopping centres

Be aware of their surroundings, both within and outside shopping centres, and especially when leaving shopping centres (to ensure that they are not being followed)

Go to the nearest police station or service station if they think they are being followed

Working together, we can contribute to a safer shopping environment and ensure an incident free festive season.

Statement by the Crime Risk Initiative (CRI) of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) on the 2016 festive season