A security guard from another security company, stationed on a neighbouring site, called our B Secure guard for assistance late in the evening. The said guard had heard noises coming from the inside of the premises and did not want to enter the premises on his own for obvious safety reasons. The guards entered the building in search of the noise and discovered a woman walking down a hallway. The woman was questioned by our guard as to what she was doing on the premises. The woman immediately ran from the guards in an attempt to flee the building. The B Secure security officer gave chase and apprehended the suspect outside the building after she successfully escaped the building via a lift. The suspect stated that she was accompanied by a man who was parked in the underground parking area of the building. The guards notified the local SAPS and conducted a search of the parking area. A pickup truck without Registration plates was located in a parking space near a service lift. A male suspect was seated in the vehicle and a number of kitchen appliances were loaded on the rear of the vehicle. The B Secure guard led police to the vehicle after they arrived on scene and a man was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of stolen goods. The woman who had a remote and keys to the building was also handed over to police and charged for theft and illegal entry into private property. The items were later confirmed to be property belonging to a building tenant.

Tips and Hints

The woman in this instance had been employed at a neighbouring building and had inside connections with staff from the targeted building. She obtained keys and remotes to the building from the contact person and gained easy access to the offices.

• Ensure that spare keys are not accessible to staff who are not permitted to keep such set.
• Contractors and service providers should not be permitted to enter the premises without proper supervision.
• Casual employees and employees should be screened and vetted prior to hiring.