By Edgar Brandt
WINDHOEK – While City Police Chief Abraham Kanime has described the festive season as a black month due to the high number of assault cases reported, security personnel at popular shopping malls said overall crime was relatively low mainly due to an increase in security guards and security surveillance equipment.
The crime at malls consisted mainly of shoplifting, albeit at a very low level, resulting in minimal losses for retailers despite shopping malls being targeted by organized crime syndicates in neighbouring countries.
“In general Maerua Mall was and is always very safe. When considering the number of people who visit the centre on a daily basis, the number of incidents were very limited and mostly related to petty theft like shoplifting,” said Carel Fourie, Chief Operations Officer of Oryx Properties Limited, the management company for Maerua Mall.
During an interview with the newspaper, Fourie ascribed the low crime rate to the upgrade of the mall’s closed circuit television (CCTV) system, which now accommodates more than 210 cameras, which he describes as the first step to prevent crime in the centre.
“CCTV is at the heart of our security system. Known culprits are identified when they try to enter the premises and are prohibited from entering the mall. Additionally we appointed a new security service provider. The general manager of this company gained his experience in South Africa and transferred his knowledge to Namibia to assist us to make the shopping experience even safer for our customers,” remarked Fourie. He added that the value of items stolen is difficult to estimate as not all retailers report cases of theft.
The Oryx Properties COO added that security beams have also now been installed around the Baines shopping centre in Pionierspark, making it virtually impossible to enter the centre through the roof and break in during the night undetected.
Fourie added: “Technology is definitely on our side to secure our assets and the assets of our tenants. At the end of the day we always need to stay alert and updated on the latest security innovations that help us to prevent crime in Namibia and in doing so we can keep the shopping experience safe for all of us.”
“In 2013 the crime rate in Maerua Mall was actually quite low. During the festive season our guards are extremely alert to potential offenders and we usually increase the number of guards to make shopping safer for the public. Additionally we arranged a meeting with the chief and high ranking officers of the City Police in October last year to discuss the processes which can be implemented to improve the already good working relationship with them so that we can make Maerua Mall even safer as a team.”
He explained that when a suspect is caught, Oryx Properties and the security company follows certain steps. The first step is to escort the culprit to the security office where his or her personal details are recorded and a picture is taken. This is followed by the completion of a “Trespassing Form” which effectively bans the culprit from the premises. When these procedures are completed the suspect is taken from the site to the nearest police station where a case will be opened.
“We have a ‘zero tolerance for crime’ policy,” emphasized Fourie.
Detailing the latest security concern, Fourie said criminals have now resorted to sitting in their vehicles in the mall’s parking areas with remote controls that they use to try and interfere with unsuspecting customers’ remote locking signals for their vehicles. The criminals try and jam the locking mechanisms of vehicles so that they do not lock unless locked with a key.
“Thanks to the guards and the alerted public who informed us, we increased the observation in these areas and found the suspects who were immediately removed from site,” explained Fourie.
“Up to today you can’t compare Namibia with crime in South Africa. Shopping centres there are a huge target for organised crime. What we are working on is to have an open communication line to all tenants so that they are alerted and know our security systems are in place. We need to work together to prevent crime in Namibia.