With another mall robbery at Canal Walk last night, some members have asked for advice on what to do as they regularly frequent malls. The following is by no means comprehensive, however it offers a few tips and thoughts on this type of scenario. MALL ROBBERIES - WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Mall robberies are increasing. So what can you do if you suspect its happening, witness or worse still are caught up in one? If youre in a mall and see suspicious activity that leads you to believe that a mall robbery is in progress, discretely back away a safe distance but if possible maintain a line of sight to the entrace of that store. Call SAPS or mall security immediately. Slowly and clearly tell them exactly what you see. If the suspects should exit the store, move the phone away from your ear immediately - if they observe and think youre giving the police or security live updates you could end up being a target. Do not disconnect the call, just move the phone. Continue to give as much detail as possible. Be sure to give them your details and contact number straight away when you call - that way if youre cut off, they can call you back immediately or contact you later for more detailed information. Be wary of any lookouts outside or nearby the store. If youre in the store when it happens, take deep slow breaths to keep yourself calm. Avoid eye contact, keep your hands visible and do as instructed. If the opportunity exists, pay close attention to what trousers and shoes the suspects are wearing. They may discard jackets and caps as they flee - its a lot harder to discard or change shoes and trousers. Do not fidget and if you absolutely must do anything, state your intended action clearly and slowly before doing it. Mall robbers can be kind of jumpy and you dont want them to misinterpret your intentions. If you should see suspects fleeing the scene of a mall robbery, seek cover behind any solid objects, pay close attention to the vehicle. Look for any identifying marks, dents, scratches, bumper stickers etc. Observe the number plate and direction of travel. Also pay close attention to the registration of any vehicles leaving immediately behind the suspect vehicle as these may be of interest in followup investigation. Report these to SAPS with your contact details. If you are armed and encounter any of the above scenarios, before engaging suspects, weigh up the direct risk to loss of life at that time before acting - if its only stuff theyre stealing - its replaceable. Yes, this is contrary to many legally armed citizens instincts, however mall robbers are notorious for having outriders that are on the periphery of events to cover the escape and often go unnoticed. While youre focused on the visible suspects there could well be another one or two out of sight behind you. If you are legally armed and tactically inclined, points to consider are the backstop of anywhere that you may fire, your areas of personal vulnerability (whats behind you) as well as the effectiveness and necessity of your actions. Ultimately any actions you take must be in direct defense of life and justifiable in a court of law after the fact. While I cannot say dont get involved because its situation dependent, I would advise on tactical reloads and prudence before action. In the even of shots being fired, stay close to solid objects that will provide you with cover. Limit your movement and resist the urge to run away from the sound of origin unless it is clearly safe to do so. The last thing you want to do is make yourself a target by attracting attention through movement. Stay calm, breath deeply and slowly and seek the closest solid object behind which you can cover until safe to come out. As with most crimes, good solid information from witnesses is always vital. Focus on getting as much detail as possible on one suspect rather than little bits and pieces of all of them. A clear recollection of a single suspect is more useful than vague notes of all. Make notes on your cellphone or write them down as soon as possible after the event. When reporting the information to the police, avoid being an anonymous caller, often syndicates make anonymous calls with false information to throw the police off balance. Therefore only attributable information is given credibility directly after an incident. Stay alert and stay safe! Milnerton Crime Watch Trust/ 2014 ** The views expressed above are those of the project manager in his personal capacity and not necessarily those of the trust and are provided in good faith and the public interest.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 14:42:23 +0000
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