Lockdown business crime spike
On Tuesday evening, two staff members were held up during an armed robbery at a car workshop at Empangeni Rail
EMPANGENI Rail has fast become a den of criminal activity during lockdown, with some business premises having experienced burglaries on more than one occasion.
On Tuesday evening, two staff members were held up during an armed robbery at a car workshop at Empangeni Rail.
The owner of the store said the men tried to distract the cashier before they robbed them of an undisclosed amount of money.
‘The cashier and manager were at the store when two men came in pretending to want to buy items.
They then forced the cashier to give them cash before they ran out. They did not have time to take other stock because one of the staff pressed the panic button.’
One of the suspects was shot on the leg and arrested.
‘The staff members are traumatised after the incident, but no one was physically harmed and we are thankful for that.’
This was just one of a string of robberies targeting businesses since the beginning of lockdown, and authorities have reported an increase in criminal activities.
According to police records, house break-ins, theft out of properties, remote jammings, business break-ins and ATM fraud are frequently reported.
Some of the trends which were noted were roof entries, criminals tripping electricity supplies, remote jamming, and tampering with fences and gate motors.
Police urge residents to test their alarms and beams to ensure they are always in working order.
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