Mall ups checks at entrances

14 October 2014 - 02:03 By Jerome Cornelius
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Canal Walk Food Court
Canal Walk Food Court

Security guards with hand-held metal detectors have been brought in at Canal Walk shopping centre to conduct spot checks on shoppers.

The move comes after two heists at the mall last week.

On Saturday, robbers stole jewellery and watches worth more than R2-million from Harris Jewellers. Last Wednesday, gunmen made off with several iPhones from the iStore. A customer was assaulted and a guard wounded. A man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Canal Walk marketing manager Vanessa Herbst said yesterday that centre managers had spoke to the police, the Western Cape Department of Community Safety, security consultants, Business Against Crime and tenants.

"Canal Walk has taken immediate steps, increasing security presence and conducting random hand-held metal detector checks at entrances."

Police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said no arrests had been made after Saturday's heist. He could not say what plans were in place to prevent further heists in the run-up to the festive season.

Business Against Crime Western Cape chief executive Andrew Anthony said shoppers and retailers were understandably worried, especially considering how brazen the robbers were.

"They only go for high-value items, such as jewellery," he said.

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