Retail robberies continue to climb

The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) says a collaborative effort is required to address retail crime. This follows its report that retail robberies have increased by 30%, over the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, compared to the same period of the previous year. Financial losses incurred by the industry because of retail robberies also increased by 32%. This trend has continued into this current financial year, to the extent that retail robberies have now reached the highest recorded level.

22 Sep 2014

This increase in business robberies is in line with the national crime statistics also announced on 19 September 2014 by the Police National Commissioner, General Rhiya Phiyega. These show a general increase in the so-called Trio Crimes, with business robberies increasing by 13.7% compared to the previous year.

"The continued targeting of the retail sector by organised crime syndicates is of considerable concern to the industry," says Dr Graham Wright, Head of the Consumer Goods Crime Risk Initiative (CGCRI), a business unit within the Consumer Goods Council of SA that specialises in crime prevention related initiatives and interventions in the retail industry.

"We are, however, heartened by the 14% drop in jewellery robberies reported to CGCSA and the 50% reduction in losses experienced by this industry. In addition, the retail industry reported a 6% decrease in burglaries over this period, with associated losses falling by 45%.

"We believe strongly that an effective solution lies in our ability to create a collaborative anti-crime platform that focuses on mitigating the crime risks that currently beleaguer the retail industry. We urge all players in the retail industry to join us in this initiative where we will share information, develop solutions and strengthen partnerships with all relevant stakeholders and role players. As a collective, we can accomplish much more.

"The CGCSA and its members continue to focus on crime prevention in the industry and supporting law enforcement and the broader criminal justice system in fighting the scourge of crime in the industry," concludes Wright.