Identifying suspicious vehicles, particularly in busy shopping centers, is often no easy task. However possible signs that a vehicle is suspicious can include:

- A vehicle/s or vehicles occupied by a number of different people who park for long periods at centers and where one or more of the occupants are seen moving in and out of the center and each time going back to same vehicle/s.

- Where the same vehicle/s normally occupied by a number of people is seen moving around the parking area and appears to be surveilling different entrances and parking at different points within the center.

- A vehicle parked in the parking for long period of time and where the occupants are perceived to be monitoring security movement or behaving in an unusual and abnormal manner

Car guards are often best placed to identify such vehicles and to inform center security the center security. The vehicle registration number of these vehicles should be written down for checking with the SAPS. Also they can, after accessing the potential risk, notify the local police or metropolitan police whose visible appearance can either become a strong deterrent or even result in arrests.

Information compiled by Business Against Crime