Business Armed Robberies Spike: Swift Response Halts Umgeni Theft Haul

It is unclear whether the relaxation of Covid-restrictions is a contributing factor, but Blue Security is noticing an alarming increase in armed robberies at businesses in recent weeks in the greater Durban area.
“Business owners should be aware that criminal attacks on retailers, manufacturers and distribution centres have been escalating. More disturbing is that the robbers act in numbers thus increasing the danger to innocent individuals on the scene,” said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios.
“Armed gangs (one as large as ten suspects) recently targeted a New Germany hardware store and Berea business as well as holding up security guards in Reservoir Hills and the worrying spike in attacks are continuing,” he said.
“Blue Security reaction officers responded to a panic activation in the early hours of Tuesday morning at a wholesale business in Umgeni Road. Fortunately the swift response saw a theft haul of goods worth approximately R50 000 nipped in the bud,” Mathios said.
“The onsite guard had raised the alarm when he spotted a suspect on the roof. It was later established that an unknown number of suspects had gained entry through the warehouse roof,” he said. “The suspects had abandoned the stock, on top of the building and fled,” he said. The case is under investigation.
An armed robbery occurred in a separate incident on Tuesday morning at a supermarket in Pinetown. “SAPS and a Blue Security reaction officer arrived at the scene to discover that three armed suspects had entered the premises and fled with a large sum of cash,” Mathios said. “No injuries were sustained and nothing else was taken. The incident is being investigated,” he said.
“A business in a light industrial area of Pinetown was the target of an attempted robbery on Tuesday morning by a gang of six armed suspects,” Mathios said.
“The gang had entered the industrial complex via an unlocked pedestrian gate before overpowering the onsite guard. Three of the suspects stood watch over the guard while the other three tried to force their way into the premises,” he said. “Fortunately their attempt was unsuccessful but they stole the main-gate remote and the guard’s cellphone before making their escape in an awaiting getaway vehicle. The guard was not injured in the incident,” he said.
“In light of the growing number of attacks on businesses it is vital that onsite security systems are operational or upgraded. Communication with control centres should be checked regularly to maximize response by the security provider in the event of an emergency,” Mathios said.