Retail crime "considerably" down

Retail crime statistics, especially for armed robberies and burglaries, have fallen “considerably” in the past year, the Consumer Goods Council of SA said on Tuesday.

JOHANNESBURG - Retail crime statistics, especially for armed robberies and burglaries, have fallen "considerably" in the past year, the Consumer Goods Council of SA said on Tuesday.

According to the council, the number of armed robberies reported in 2010 fell to 159, compared to 282 incidents in 2009. The number of burglaries dropped to 311, compared to 426 incidents reported in 2009.

“The 2010 crime figures were the lowest we have ever recorded,” said James Oosthuizen the manager of the council’s business unit, the consumer goods risk initiative (CGRI), which specialises in crime prevention in the retail industry.

"However, to claim the honour for it ourselves would be presumptuous, the credit should go towards the SA Police Service and its members who have sacrificed their festive seasons to protect us,” he said.

Financial losses by the retailers as a result of crime also decreased "substantially".

A financial comparison on robbery indicates a 48 percent drop to R10,03m from R19,36m in 2009 and on burglary there is a 49 percent decrease to R10,07m from R19,97m in 2009.

Financial losses incurred as a result of robberies and burglaries in 2008 were R20,72m and R16,m.

Stand alone shops continued to be more vulnerable to crime than those situated in shopping centres.

This phenomenon could be attributed to the fact that the physical environment, low traffic and lack of natural surveillance, of stand alone shops enhanced the opportunities for crime to occur, said Oosthuizen.

"Preventing crime in retail stores and shopping centres is not only about arresting the perpetrators, but also rely on removing the opportunity for crime." Oosthuizen said.

"This implies learning from the mistakes and successes of others."

Oosthuizen said CGRI, which represents a portion of major retailers, shopping centres and the jewellery industry, had developed a set of "best practices" which member companies were provided with and which, it was believed, had contributed to the decline in serious crime.

 

Source :  SAPA, The Citizen - 2011/03/08

You're in good hands with Austen Security as we have 75 years experience in the security business, no other company can say the same in the South African market place. We look forward to becoming your security partner!   Request a Quote *Name: *Surname: *Cell: *Email: *Town: Nearest Town Gauteng - Centurion Gauteng - Johannesburg Gauteng - Pretoria East Gauteng - Pretoria North