Pretoria - Shoppers looking to prepare for the festive season have been urged to keep an eye out for criminals looking to make a quick buck during this busy time.
Professor Jaco Barkhuizen, a criminologist at the University of Limpopo, has warned all South Africans to be on high alert around this time of the year.
He said people would also be receiving bonuses, which gave them more spending power. But criminality was also prevalent at this time of year.
The police have launched their Vala Konke campaign to target hotspot crime areas, including the Pretoria CBD, the streets and crime hotspots in townships and suburbs.
The campaign aims to reduce gender-based violence and femicide, hijackings and robberies; enhance border security and enforcement of gun use legislation, liquor laws, and ensuring safety of sports and recreational events.
Pretoria central police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Augustinah Selepe said this festive season had already seen an increase in armed robberies at shopping centres, requiring mall managers to tighten their security.
Clothing, cellphone and food outlets were the most frequently targeted stores in business robberies, Selepe pointed out.
She also warned people to be extra careful when using ATMs and to never accept assistance from anyone. “They should ensure that the keypad is covered when entering their banking pin codes.”
SAPS Tshwane acting district commissioner Brigadier Samuel Thine said more police officers would be deployed throughout the district.
Roadblocks would be intensified to catch out those who chose to drive under the influence of alcohol.
“Law enforcement agencies will be out in force across the district to ensure that road users and the wider community are safe,” Thine said.
Pretoria News