RAM is at the coal face of dealing with hardened criminals who are getting smarter by the day, constantly looking for new ways to steal anything that can be sold for cash quickly.

Our employees are encouraged to always stay one step ahead and have the assistance of our highly vigilant Risk Department staff, who spend their days investigating incidents to uphold our stance of zero tolerance for losses.

We would like to share the details of two incidents where the quick-thinking actions of our employees have lead to the apprehension of criminals and the recovery of stolen goods.

Case 1
Location: Durban
Date: 29 May 2008
Description: False documents supplied to collect a parcel lead to arrest

On 22 May a man, believed to be a client, collected a parcel containing a cellphone from our Durban office. The documentation was in order and Ruth Mthembu released the parcel. A week later, the same man returned to collect another parcel containing a cellphone.

Ruth recalled the man having collected a parcel the previous week, and notified Naseer Alladin. He told the man the collection would have to be verified with the cellphone company and they would call him when the parcel was ready for collection. Naseer then alerted Rivash Singh, who phoned the so-called ‘customer’, leaving a message on his voicemail that he could return to collect the parcel.

The man returned at 18h00 and Rivash asked him to wait while he looked for the parcel. He then called the police. Rivash discovered that the man had an accomplice waiting in a vehicle at the entrance. The police arrived 15 minutes later, and the accomplice called the man to warn him.

The man then walked out of the Operations exit and Rivash gave chase. The suspect climbed over the back wall of the hub and ran away. Rivash ran back to the boom gate and instructed security not to let the waiting vehicle out. He then directed the police to the vehicle and Durban Hub Manager, Mohammed Nizamie, grabbed the car keys away from the suspect.

On searching the vehicle, the police found a number of fraudulent identity documents, a laptop and five cellphones. They arrested the suspect, but told him they could let him go if he paid them money. He called his accomplice and arranged to meet him to collect the money.

The police escorted the suspect to the meeting place where his partner presented them with a R1 700 bribe. They then arrested him too and took both men to Durban Central Police Station where cases of fraud and bribery were opened against them.

It is thanks to Ruth, Naseer, Rivash and Mohammed that these criminals were apprehended and charged, and the client’s parcel did not fall into the wrong hands.

Case 2
Location: Umlazi, Durban
Date: 12 May 2008
Description: Heist

RAM driver, Siyanda Madlala, arrived at a client’s premises in Umlazi at 16h30 to deliver a parcel. His crew member, Sibusiso Sithole, left the van to deliver the parcel. Sibusiso returned to find Siyanda being held at gun-point. The hijacker told Siyanda to get out of the vehicle and three men then jumped into the van and sped away. Siyanda and Sibusiso ran back to the client’s house to report the hijacking to our Durban Control Room, which informed RAM in Johannesburg and the SAPS. Our vehicle tracking company dispatched a ground team and helicopter to Umlazi. The van was found abandoned behind the fire station in Umlazi with nine parcels for delivery and four collections missing.

Johannesburg-based Risk Administrator, Preshina Moonsammy, proceeded with an investigation into the missing parcels. Preshina discovered that some of the parcels contained cellphones, and soon traced one of the handsets, which was activated in the Umlazi area.

Preshina’s quick thinking led her to call the cellphone posing as an employee of the cellphone company. She told the person he had won a flat-screen TV. The person then gave Preshina his physical address to facilitate delivery of the TV. Preshina passed this information to Durban Branch Manager, Mohammed Nizamie, who forwarded it to the Umlazi police and the suspect was apprehended.

Siyanda and Sibusiso were asked to attend an identity parade, where they positively identified the suspect as the person who had hijacked them.

Well done to Preshina for her thorough investigation and for her ingenious ‘trap’ to catch the criminal.