Consumers warned to be vigilant ahead of ‘Easter crime spike’
Consumers have been warned to be vigilant over the coming Easter holiday as the period usually sees a spike in crime.
The last two years saw an increase of 16% in retail cash crime during the Easter holiday period, Cash Connect CEO Richard Phillips said on Tuesday.
This based on the 2017/18 stats between the two months of March and April.
Phillips was speaking at the Cash Connects Easter cash crime stats media briefing in Sandton.
He believes the reason for the increase of cash crimes at retail stores over this specific period is due to the high volumes of cash transactions.
“In Easter, and in the period leading up to and including the December Christmas period, people go shopping,” said Phillips, adding that about 46% of all retail crime happens in Gauteng.
He believes this has to do with the province’s proximity to mines where criminals are able to access explosives.
“Fifty-four percent of all attacks against cash connecters last year were bombings.”
Phillips said cash crime in the retail sector has gone done by 7%, while cash-in-transit heists have decreased by 23%.
Phillips cautioned that while the figures might have dropped, crime in the sector is still too high.
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