A Toyota Quantum gang has its sights on smaller business that lack proper security measures, police said this week.

According to police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach the Tshwane Central Cluster has observed an increase in business robberies at fast-food outlets, spaza shops and salons.

Weilbach said the gang travelled in a white Toyota Quantum robbing these stores and its modus operandi was one man entered the store and pretended to be a customer.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Petrol station robbery case postponed

The others then followed and robbed the store.

“They usually do not stop after the first robbery and will proceed to other areas on the same evening to commit more robberies.”

“It is suspected that taxi drivers are renting out Toyota Quantums after hours to this group to commit crimes.”

Many of these businesses are trading from very early mornings till late at night which makes them an easy target.

In a separate incident last week Friday at 05:00 a spaza shop was robbed just after it opened for business. Two suspects entered the store and threatened two men with a firearm and a knife.

Weilbach said cigarettes, cellphones and cash were taken, the one complainant was stabbed twice in the leg before the suspects fled in a grey Chevrolet Cherry.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Mamelodi armed robbery suspects to appear in court

On the same day at 11:00 a second spaza shop was robbed of cigarettes and cash, and a cellphone, this time in Villieria.

Three unknown men entered the store and threatened the complainant with a firearm before robbing him and fleeing in a white Fiat Palio.

Chicken and pizza fast-food outlets and hair salons are also targeted by the gang of four men, three black and one coloured.

In a bid to reduce the robberies Weilbach said the Tshwane Central SAPS would meet with especially spaza shop owners in the month of October to advise them on how they could improve their security measures.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Bullets fly as metro police foil east robbery

“It will also be recommended to them that they must shorten their trading hours by opening up later and closing earlier.”

She advised that the extra few rands more the business made from the extended trading hours was not worth putting personal safety at risk.

“Burglar bars, security gates, CCTV cameras are installed on eye level, panic buttons and the hiring of a reliable security company are all measures that can be put in place to deter opportunistic criminals.”

“Business owners must limit the amount of cash on the premises by doing regular banking,” said Weilbach.

ALSO READ: Tshwane SAPS awarded for stolen vehicle recovery

Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:

Rekord East

Rekord North

Rekord Centurion

Rekord Moot

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram