Security recommendations for retail jewellers over the Festive Season and beyond

The Jewellery Council of South Africa has republished their recommendations with regards to crime prevention. A tragic trend is noted in which stores that were recently victims of robberies did not have the following protocols in place:

• High-quality portrait CCTV, especially at the entrance. No stores in recent incidents have been able to produce quality images, and as such, the chance of positive identification of suspects is hampered and prosecutions almost impossible.
• Strictly-enforced protocols to ensure all customers remove COVID masks before entering stores in order to identify all entrants into the store, recorded on high quality CCTV.
• A fully functional smoke alarm system.

All jewellery stores are urged to implement the JCSA’s 13 Recommendations for Retailers:

1. Ensure sufficient CCTV coverage within the store. The entrance cameras should be at eye level and of good quality to generate clear identifiable images. In the event of an incident the guidelines regarding the evidence of video footage to be followed. (Available from JCSA).
2. Ensure participation in all crime prevention initiatives within the Shopping Centre, and open communications with Centre Management and Security.
3. Ensure that all employees and security personnel are regularly vetted and polygraphed where appropriate.
4. Ensure that all emergency contact numbers are readily available and accessible to all staff members in the store.
5. The installation of security gates at entrances to a jewellery store is advisable as well as appropriate entrance security control.
6. Install a ‘smoke alarm’ and panic alarm systems, linked to centre Management and Security and, where appropriate, engage armed response.
7. Never let individual/s into your place of business before or after business hours.
8. Do not open or close the store alone. Always ensure that at least two persons lock or unlock the doors while a third person observes from a safe distance outside to summon police or security if required.
9. Ensure that staff members are trained to be vigilant at all times.
10. Report any suspicious behaviour (with photos if possible) to the CGCSA for distribution to other retailers and Centre Management.
11. Distribute all high value items throughout the store in the display cabinets while trading to reduce losses during an incident.
12. Also ensure that all high value items are stored in the safe after trading hours (jewellery, electronics and mobile phones).
13. In the event of a crime incident, comply with the perpetrator’s instructions and try to make mental notes without putting yourself at risk in order to provide SAPS with as much information as possible.

The sad reality in this economy is that many jewellers feel that they are not in a position to finance the above, but the cost of a violent incident must be weighed against the monetary outlay. Our community has lost too many friends and colleagues already.

Retailers are also encouraged to exert pressure on landlords to upgrade their mall security by implementing the JCSA’s ‘13 Recommendations for Malls’:

1. Ensure proper signage and control over the wearing of any form of headgear, hats, balaclavas, hoodies etc. that serve to obscure the facial features of visitors to the shopping mall (thought through in terms of implementation and to account for various religious groups).
2. Deploy permanent armed response vehicles and guards at the perimeter of shopping malls, which are in constant communication with Centre Management and Centre Security and able to respond immediately to any form of serious crime incident.
3. Secure the exterior perimeter of shopping malls and ensure the ability for the mall to be locked down (i.e. gates, spikes at the booms, etc.) in the event of an emergency/incident.
4. Secure all alternative entrances to shopping malls (such as fire escapes, passages, etc.) and ensure that these are under constant surveillance and locked where possible.
5. Ensure sufficient CCTV coverage of all areas as agreed to with the tenants, security service providers as well as law enforcement and ensure that these are placed in the best possible position, are maintained adequately and have sufficient resolution to identify perpetrators – with special emphasis on high risk/value retailers.
6. Join the local Community Policing Forum in order for you to be informed of what is happening in and around your centre.
7. Create a WhatsApp group for all tenants and security service providers for quick communication.
8. Ensure that the mall always has the local SAPS station, SAPS sector patrol vehicle and all emergency numbers readily available.
9. Insist that the shopping centre security service providers have vetted all their personnel and provide proof of the vetting. Conducting regular random security checks is advisable.
10. Ensure sufficient deployment of security personnel, visible and undercover in identified vulnerable areas. I.e. underground parking, open parking etc.
11. Ensure that radio communication systems utilised by security service providers are regularly checked to ensure that they are fully functional at all times.
12. Consider and negotiate with relevant role-players the establishment of a satellite police station within the centre (where applicable).
13. The shopping centre’s security should be part of the E2E initiative

Any shortcomings at your mall should be used in lease negotiations.

The JCSA’s Risk Initiative is sadly limited by the lack of political will and resources available to combat the scourge of criminality in our country. However they continue to:

• Collate the statistics of incidents, case numbers and prosecutions
• Try to find common modus operandi and suspects between incidents.
• Communicate with members regarding incidents and alerts (via email and WhatsApp groups in Gauteng, Western Cape & KZN)
• Attempt to meet with SAPS and NPA, who are generally no-shows at their quarterly meetings
• Liaise with the serious and violent crimes division at SAPS
• Co-ordinate the efforts of retail risk managers and mall security
• Communicate with SA Council of Shopping Centres who represent all the major retail landlords
• Make security recommendations to members and SA Council of Shopping Centres
• Research and investigate the use of the latest technology to combat criminals
• Engage the service of the Consumer Goods Council to provide most of these services.

We are in this fight together. Should you be the unfortunate victim of an incident, detailed and complete crime incident information should be sent as soon as possible to the CGCRI on crime@cgcsa.co.za/011 777 3300.