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Cape Town hotel targeted in latest summer-season robbery

Cape Town – As the festive season looms, a spate of robberies linked to the upcoming summer season has been taking place in and around Cape Town.

IOL reports the latest incident has taken place at the Cullinan Hotel, located on the Foreshore of the CBD.

Three men allegedly stole jewellery from the Shimansky display cabinet in the hotel’s foyer.

The robbery took place at 6:30 on Tuesday morning, just meters away from the annual Crime Stoppers International Conference taking place at the international convention centre. 

Staff at the hotel suspect the robbers might have been tipped off as it took place during a security shift change.

Sapa reports the Western Cape police, together with mall security across the province, are doing an assessment on the robberies which have hit shopping centres over the past few months.

Most recently, Canal Walk in Century City was the scene of two robberies in the space of a week.

"We are busy with security assessments to see where are the gaps and then to see where can we address those gaps," said deputy Western Cape police commissioner Major General Sharon Jephta on Sunday.

Jephta said the robbers appeared to be targeting mostly jewellery stores and cellphone shops.

The SA Police Service is working with Business Against Crime to tackle the robberies patrols at malls have also been increased.

Since Cape Town is a major tourist attraction, especially during the summer months, the City of Cape Town launched a 24/7 hotline as part of its Summer Safety plan in 2103.

The number to call if you are a victim of crime is: 082 415 7127.

It is wise to always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings to ensure your safety when out and about Muneeb Hendricks, Safety & Security manager for the CCID recommends the following tips:

If you are a victim of crime:

•      Stay calm, do not panic 

•      Don’t resist – follow all instructions

•      Try and remember the description/characteristics of the criminal

•      Report the crime immediately to the CCID or SAPS. Along with the CCID’s hotline and on-the-ground PSOs, there are also a number of 24/7 CCID-branded mobile kiosks across the CBD.


Emergency numbers:

Keep a list of these 24/7 emergency numbers for the Cape Town Central City on your cell phone and share them with your friends and family.


•      CCID 24 hour safety & security 082 415 7127

•      SAPS 021 467 8001/2

•      City’s Metro & Traffic Police 0860 765 423

•      Emergency ambulance, health, noise & fire 107 (landlines)/ 021 480 7700

•      Social Development – Adults 0800 872 201

•      Social Development – Children 0800 220 250.


Hotel safety tips:


•      Place your valuables/passport in a hotel safe

•      Never leave your possessions unattended

•      Lock the door when you are in your room

•      Don’t open the door without first checking who it is

•      Never leave cash or valuables lying around when you are not in the room

•      Don’t leave your belongings unattended at the pool, in the gym or in public spaces.


Safety tips when driving:


•      Keep your doors locked at all times

•      Know where you are going by planning your route and/or use a navigation device 

•      Park in well-lit areas at night

•      Keep enough distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you 

•      Don’t pick-up hitchhikers or strangers

•      Be alert at intersections and avoid giving handouts – rather donate to via the CCID’s “Give Responsibly” campaign to an NGO in the CBD that makes a difference to the lives of homeless people. SMS “Give” to 38088 to make a R10 donation.

•      Never open your window when approached by a stranger

•      If you think you are being followed, drive to a busy location or a police station

•      Don’t keep any items visible on the seat of your vehicle, either when driving or after you have parked your car

•      When locking by remote, make sure that your car is actually locked.


Safety tips when walking around the CBD or using public transport:

•      Plan your route before you set out on an excursion - the new street names and numbering system which is starting to appear on street posts in the CBD (Loop, Long & Bree Streets are the first to be implemented) makes it easier to find your destination. Try using Google Maps and Google Streetview to get around with confidence

•      Don’t walk down poorly lit streets

•      Keep your handbag and possessions close to your body

•      Don’t carry large sums of money and avoid counting it in open view of passersby

•      If you do use a taxi, select only registered, metered taxis. They are required to display permits on their dashboards

•      Get around the CBD safely by planning your route when using public transport and the MyCiTi bus service 

•      Never accept help from strangers at the ATM.


Safety tips when socialising:

•      Don’t leave handbags under tables or on the back of your chair

•      Don’t leave cell phones or wallets on restaurant tables

•      Be vigilant when handing your credit card over to make a payment

•      Don’t leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.

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