As a customer in public spaces such as shopping malls, it is essential to be aware of your surroundings in order to keep yourself and your belongings safe, says Fidelity ADT’s district manager (Cape Town North) Verena Hulme.
One needs to be aware and be vigilant. All incidences of violence and crime that occur inside and outside of shopping malls should be taken seriously. Every shopping mall’s priority should be their customer’s safety.
Customers should be careful not to look too distracted because they could be the target of a criminal. Hulme says that customers visiting the mall should always be wary that anything could happen, “it is when people aren’t paying attention when they become easy targets for would-be thieves.
The best option is, therefore, to be on the lookout for anyone following you or someone loitering at your car in the parking area. Trust your instincts.”
Hulme encourages customers to carry as little as possible and leave unnecessary items such as bank or store cards and large sums of cash at home.
Customers should never leave or keep their handbag, purse or wallet in a trolley. If customers are going to draw money from an ATM, they should rather use a machine that’s located in a busy area. They should not give away their banking details to anyone who asks to assist them.
After drawing their money, customers should put it away immediately and if they suspect that someone is following them, they should randomly walk into any shop or go to the nearest security guard.
To prevent remote jamming, customers are advised to park their car in a well-lit, properly secured parking area where a security guard is visibly on duty. Hume says customers should always double check that their vehicle is secured, “when you leave your car, make sure the doors are properly locked. Never just assume that your remote had in fact locked your doors. The extra few seconds it takes to make sure the car is properly locked and secured are worth it.”
When leaving the mall, customers should check if anyone is following. If someone is indeed following them, customers are recommended to drive to the nearest police station. Upon arrival at their home, customers should keep in mind the general hijacking safety tips that consist of checking that the house gate is closed or locked properly after driving in.
