CRIMINALS using “grab and run” methods are increasingly targeting clothing stores in East London’s Oxford Street, forcing them to upgrade security.
A number of clothing stores this week told the Saturday Dispatch they had been repeat victims of grab and run incidents and in some cases armed robbery.
As a result store managers said they were employing added security guards and introducing other measures such as reducing the size of their entrances for better control.
Identity store manager Estro Canham said a few weeks ago nine men walked into the store and held the security guard up at gunpoint before running off with stock.
“It was around opening time, there weren’t many customers in the store when the men walked in.
“One of them held a gun to the security guard at the door, while the eight started grabbing the stock and running out with it,” said Canham.
She said the shops were easy targets as the criminals were able to disappear into the crowd among the congestion caused by taxi ranks and hawkers along Oxford Street.
Truworths store manager Vuyiseka Jali said the shop had been robbed numerous times, with the most recent incident taking place two weeks ago.
“In one instance one of the staff gave chase and managed to retrieve the stock. However, on his way back they followed him in a car and demanded the stock at gunpoint.
“We have since minimised the number of stock we put on display and employed an extra security guard,” said Jali.
Store manager at Exact, Susan Bekker, said last month seven armed men entered the store and grabbed cellphones and jewellery on display.
“They smashed the display glasses with hammers and grabbed the cellphones and the jewellery,” said Bekker.
Fleet Street police confirmed that cases of this nature had been reported at the station over the past six months.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Mtati Tana said: “We have intensified our patrols in the CBD and visited the stores in a bid to curb this crime.”
Assistant manager at Markham Genevieve Pennels said they had been robbed so many times she feared for her safety.
'Grab and run' robbers hit Oxford Street shops
A number of clothing stores this week told the Saturday Dispatch they had been repeat victims of grab and run incidents and in some cases armed robbery.
As a result store managers said they were employing added security guards and introducing other measures such as reducing the size of their entrances for better control.
Identity store manager Estro Canham said a few weeks ago nine men walked into the store and held the security guard up at gunpoint before running off with stock.
“It was around opening time, there weren’t many customers in the store when the men walked in.
“One of them held a gun to the security guard at the door, while the eight started grabbing the stock and running out with it,” said Canham.
She said the shops were easy targets as the criminals were able to disappear into the crowd among the congestion caused by taxi ranks and hawkers along Oxford Street.
Truworths store manager Vuyiseka Jali said the shop had been robbed numerous times, with the most recent incident taking place two weeks ago.
“In one instance one of the staff gave chase and managed to retrieve the stock. However, on his way back they followed him in a car and demanded the stock at gunpoint.
“We have since minimised the number of stock we put on display and employed an extra security guard,” said Jali.
Store manager at Exact, Susan Bekker, said last month seven armed men entered the store and grabbed cellphones and jewellery on display.
“They smashed the display glasses with hammers and grabbed the cellphones and the jewellery,” said Bekker.
Fleet Street police confirmed that cases of this nature had been reported at the station over the past six months.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Mtati Tana said: “We have intensified our patrols in the CBD and visited the stores in a bid to curb this crime.”
Assistant manager at Markham Genevieve Pennels said they had been robbed so many times she feared for her safety.
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