The festive season is fast approaching and is typically the peak trading season for retailers across the country.  However, retail cash crime will certainly remain high on the criminal agenda, particularly, in this cash-driven economy as R140 billion circulates the streets of South Africa.

Richard Phillips, joint CEO of Cash Connect, SA’s leading provider of automated cash management and payment solutions give some insights for retailers to mitigate their risk for being a victim of retail cash crime.

• Criminals carefully survey their targets before an attack. Share your protection strategies with your staff.
• Always be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles and people lurking in the area and tip off the police.
• Encourage staff to report suspicious enquiries to the business owner immediately.
• Staff should be particularly wary of anyone wanting to know about banking habits, CIT providers or CIT collection times. 

Cash Connect’s goal is to enable retailers to operate in a safe and secure trading environment.  This festive season we want to take SA retailers from a place of safety, to a place of growth and prosperity.  

Cash is still king.  But more importantly, cash remains high on the criminal agenda.

Extended retail trading hours are a valuable feature during the festive season, but naturally increase the opportunity for retail cash crime to spike. Central business districts and coastal towns are the most high-risk areas in South Africa during December.

With over 20, 000 armed robberies in the past year, it is unfortunate that retailers have to operate in a trading environment with such a propensity for cash crime.

December and January don’t have to be a jolly season for criminals, but unfortunately, too many businesses still manage their cash using conventional methods, thereby posing an even greater risk of becoming a victim of criminal attack.

Here are a few tips you can use to avoid being a victim of cash crime this festive season:

• Keep cash at points of sale to a minimum by regularly depositing takings into a secure cash deposit device.
• Schedule ad hoc cash-in-transit (CIT) collections if and when necessary, to keep cash on site as low as possible.
• Your staff are your allies. Encourage them to report suspicious enquiries about banking habits or CIT collection times to the business owner immediately.
• Assist the cash-in-transit collection team by being prepared. This keeps the collection service time window short, sharp and safe.

The combination of vigilance, teamwork and secure cash management practices in stores and among retailers will help to reduce your risk of cash crime this holiday period.

Be warned - criminals are ready to cash in this festive season

The December holiday period is a peak trading season for SA’s retail sector, with a significant rise in cash volumes and a corresponding increase in retail cash crime, like armed robberies, burglaries and cash-in-transit heists.

While we plan our holidays and shop for Christmas gifts, criminals work from their own wish lists and seek to take advantage of opportunity presented by unsuspecting and vulnerable targets.

Richard Phillips, joint CEO of Cash Connect, SA’s leading provider of automated cash management and payment solutions, shares a few tips which retailers can use to reduce their risk for cash crime this festive season:

• Consider closing shop for a few minutes before and during cash-in-transit collections.
• Close down the cash area during cash collections and ensure that the room where the cash r handover is being made has access restrictions.
• Assist the cash-in-transit collection team by being prepared. This keeps the collection service time window short, sharp and safe.
• Ensure your CCTV systems are serviced and operational - clear pictures of suspects are invaluable to the SAPS’ investigations.

Our wish for South African retailers and their customers is a safe, peaceful and prosperous holiday period.  Cash Connect – Beyond Safe.