Three Durban malls robbed in four days as CGCSA calls for retailer-police collaboration on mall crime

Three Durban shopping centres were hit by armed robberies within four days in January 2025, prompting the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa to call for intensified collaboration between retailers, mall owners and law enforcement, IOL reported.

Armed, masked men robbed a jewellery store at Musgrave Centre on Sunday 19 January at about 11:35am, fleeing with undisclosed cash and jewellery in a white VW Polo fitted with false number plates. On the same day, four suspects posing as customers produced firearms and robbed a cellphone store at Cornubia Mall, escaping in a white VW Polo hatchback.

Days earlier, robbers hit a fragrance and jewellery store at eManzimtoti Mall, robbing a security guard of his body camera and hand radio, and exchanged gunfire with private security firm ET Rapid Response.

Police launched a manhunt for the Musgrave suspects, described as four armed men wearing masks and gloves.

Fidelity Services Group's Charnel Hattingh urged business owners to check that their CCTV is working and to remain vigilant, noting crime typically rises after festive-season police deployments wind down.

Source: IOL, 21 January 2025 - iol.co.za (also: citizen.co.za Berea Mail)