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Durban – More than R1 million has been stolen from Durban businesses in recent weeks with follow-home robberies, in particular, on the increase.
Cash-in-transit heists were also on the rise, according to Business against Crime.
Security and business experts have warned business owners to stop managing cash and rather use other payment management systems – such as electronic funds transfers (EFTs).
Naeem Rahiman, the project manager at Business against Crime KZN, said people who still chose to draw cash, and carry it around with them, were creating opportunities for robbers.
The follow-home robberies were happening all the time and “all over the show”, he said, with amounts from R5 000 to R50 000 stolen each time.
Sometimes robbers watched the banks and noted when people walked out with cash, while other times they had inside information about the drawer and how much they were drawing, Rahiman said.
Areas where people were targeted were “random”, he added.
“Those who are robbing businesses are more opportunistic, and no particular stores are being targeted. The amounts they take depend on what is in the till, but they also conduct the robberies to steal air time or cigarettes.”
Cash-in-transit heists were also on the increase, he said.
Recent cases include the heist at Bridge City, in KwaMashu, where R400 000 was taken, and an ATM heist in Eshowe 48 hours later, where R200 000 was stolen.
Darryn le Grange, the managing director of Blue Security, said five robberies in the past month had seen R400 000 stolen. Four of them had taken place in uMhlanga.
“Most of the robberies occurred when bank customers either arrived to make deposits or had withdrawn cash,” he said.
The fifth incident occurred in Springfield Park when a woman withdrew cash from the bank and was followed home and ambushed.
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew Layman said it was not always possible to work through internet banking, as some businesses were based on cash-in-hand and cash-exchanging-hands models.
He added that although he did not have statistics from members on whether business robberies had increased, he would not be surprised if they had, especially as tougher economic times meant businesses could no longer spend money on private security.
“It is a reactive expense that companies are forced to make, but it is a great pity that with so much crime, so many businesses cannot afford it.”
The police had not responded to questions at the time of going to print.
* Two cash-in-transit security guards escaped unhurt when they were robbed of R150 000 and their service pistols in Tongaat on Monday. They had just collected cash at the local KFC.
Sandy Naidoo from Protea Coin said they were relieved that neither of the guards had been harmed.
Tongaat KFC manager Lungi Bhengi said that she had heard five or six gun shots at 11.30am and had immediately closed the doors for “staff and customers’ safety”.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident but said no arrests had been made.
“The recent onslaught on security guards is a concern for us,” said Zwane. – Additional reporting by Sihle Manda
The Mercury
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