NATIONAL NEWS - Business owners and their staff members have been warned to be extra vigilant and take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety following numerous business robberies across the city, over the past week, Rising Sun Overport reports.

Armed robberies have been reported in the Overport, Glenwood, Berea, Morningside, Mayville, Umgeni and Umbilo areas.

According to the community and media liaison officer of Blue Security, Andreas Mathios suspects held up security guards in several cases.

“The suspects appear to be highly organised in their strategy. In one case, the suspects arrived in two getaway vehicles into which they loaded stolen goods,” he explained.

In one of the most recent incidents, a gang of armed robbers held up a security guard at gunpoint at business premises in Umbilo.

“One of the gang members, who is believed to have jumped over a perimeter fence to gain entry onto the property, accosted a security guard on the premises and held him up at gunpoint,” Mathios confirmed.

The suspect held the firearm to his head and demanded that he open the driveway gate to the premises. As the security guard opened the gate, a further two suspects ran onto the property.

“The suspects then forced the security guard into the back of a truck and ordered him to count to 100. The suspects stole a white Toyota Hilux from the business premises,” he added.

In another incident, a gang of armed robbers, who arrived in two vehicles, held up security guards at business premises in Umgeni Road and fled with computers and televisions.

Six balaclava-clad suspects, armed with firearms, arrived at the property at about 5: 35 am and forced their way into the building.

“The suspects held up the onsite security guards at gunpoint and forced them to lie on the ground. They smashed down doors to gain entry into the building and ransacked the premises,” Mathios said. Durban Central SAPS attended the scene of the crime.

Brazen robbers also targeted business premises in Sparks Road in Overport, last Monday night.

“The gang entered the business premises and held up staff at gunpoint, robbing them of cash and cellphones. They fled in a white Toyota. No injuries were reported,” Mathios explained.

Sydenham SAPS attended the scene of the crime.

He advised business owners to regularly update staff on security procedures and to make sure that CCTV surveillance cameras are in good working order.

“Managers and employees are also advised to always be aware of their surroundings when arriving at the business premises in the morning and when locking up at night,” he said.

Installing CCTV cameras on the premises can act as a strong deterrent and also provide invaluable intelligence to help the security company and the police to investigate in case of an incident.

Source: Caxton publication, Alberton Record.