South Africa declared war on the mall robbers this week. But experts warn that security at malls is a disgrace - and a large part of the problem. Experts revealed that a protocol drawn up in 2008 after the first wave of attacks had been largely ignored because of the cost of implementation. Another claimed that up to 70 percent of the cases investigated involved the collusion of security guards employed by the shopping centres.
This week, President Jacob Zuma urged the country to take all necessary steps to root out the scourge that saw Gauteng reeling from seven violent heists in the space of seven days. On Friday Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa echoed Zuma's call as the shopping centre industry called for a crisis crime summit. Michael Broughton, head of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and the Shopping Centre Security Council, who is convening next week's crime summit, believes that this time it will be different. "There is a new vigour among the police and a new political will. It is the first time we have a president of the country saying 'enough is enough'."
Willie van Rooyen, an insurance company investigator, said there were many frustrations involved in investigating mall robberies. One was CCTV cameras, which only had entertainment value. "The CCTV camera footage is nice to watch but is not effective. It doesn't help us as investigators. It shows us how the incident happened and helps us recall the incident later for comparisons - but that's all." Van Rooyen is investigating 20 jewellery shop robberies - the oldest having taken place in September 2008. Most of these attacks took place between 10am and 11am.
Source: IoL
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