The South African Police Service has issued a list of safety precautions to take that will keep your home and belongings safer from criminals.
EVERYONE looks forward to this time of year - including burglars. With many people away, visiting friends or just out of the house, there are many good opportunities for break-ins.
But there are ways to protect your home and possessions, with the South African Police Service (SAPS) issuing a host of tips for festive season safety.
Fences and walls
A high fence around your property, with lockable gates, is much safer than a high wall. This is because people can see through a fence so criminals cannot go about their business undetected. Walls provide no such visibility, giving robbers some protection from neighbours' eyes.
Ensure that gates are locked at all times. The keys should not be left lying around, and must be out of reach; certainly they should not be left in the lock. Security gates with sturdy locks, in front of each outer door, as well as burglar proofing covering all windows are recommended.
A number of devices prevent easy access:
- Window bars;
- Security doors;
- Security gates;
- Razor wire;
- Additional locking devices on doors;
- Strengthening of doors;
- Peepholes in the doors;
- Safety chains on doors; and
- Intercom systems between the home and gate, front door or garage.
Alarm systems
An alarm system, preferably connected to an armed response company, can act as an effective deterrent. In rural areas, a siren or alarm on the roof that can be heard over a long distance and activated by means of a switch or panic button in the house is recommended.
The police also advise that switches and panic buttons are installed in more than one room in the house. Remote panic buttons are also available, which you can carry with you around your property.
An alarm must also be able to warn the occupants if there are intruders in the house, using motion sensors. There are several types of alarm system, from the expensive electrical variety installed by professionals, to some simple but effective solutions:
- Mechanical or electrical;
- Improvised systems;
- Threaded tins;
- Threaded pieces of iron;
- Gravel on window panes, pathways or around the home;
- Obstacles that can make a noise when moved; and
- Dogs, geese and ostriches can sound a warning.
Security lights
Security lights on the outside of a house improve the physical protection of the house, farm or smallholding.
The lights must be directed away from the house and must allow the occupants to look out of the windows without being seen from outside.
The police also advise people to beware of shadows and blind spots when installing or using security lights.
Safety precautions
There are plenty of things you can do to improve your safety at home:
- Know all your emergency numbers.
- Keep your cellphone in the bedroom.
- Never leave keys in a gate or lock.
- Have good outside lighting.
- Post left in the gate is a sign that nobody is home. If you are going away, get a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your property and to remove post and newspapers.
- Be careful of what is discussed in front of household staff.
- Ensure that all doors are locked at all times and that windows are closed when you are not at home.
- Large dogs serve as a deterrent; at least one dog should be trained to sleep inside the house.
- If you are going away or out, tell your family or neighbours where you are going, when you will be back and the route you will be driving, especially if you live in a rural area.
- Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, and ladders that can be used in an attack, are locked away.
- Don't leave your garage, front or back door open as this is an invitation to burglars.
- Never open the door automatically whenever the bell rings or if someone knocks. Make sure you - and everyone else in the house - are expecting the visitor. Unsuspecting employees and children are often approached by robbers pretending to be telephone repairmen, municipal inspectors and such other professionals. Such con men are also known to pretend to talk to the homeowner to put pressure on unsuspecting victims to open the gate or door.
- Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights. Remain awake for a while.
- You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.
- Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.
- Identify relatively safe places of refugee, such as the bathroom, toilet or storeroom.
- Clear the areas around the gates of bushes and other hiding places.
- Take photographs of all employees. It could be to your advantage to identify them, if required.
- Keep copies of all your employees' identity documents.
- Do not employ casual workers without first checking their references.
- A watchdog is a good early warning system. Keep the dog visible as a deterrent but beyond the reach of strangers. The unexplained death of a watchdog is a warning sign that a burglary may be being planned.
- When approaching your house entrance by foot or car ensure that it is safe to enter and that you have not been followed.
- Keep your entrance clear of plants or obstacles that can provide a hiding place for would be robbers that could surprise when you leave or enter the home.
- Store firearms in a safe and do not let anyone, including household employees and children, know that you have firearms in the house. A safe out of sight in a cupboard is a good choice.
- Do not allow strangers on your property or in your house without having properly identified them, especially at night.
Robbers have been known to pose as police officers. Police officers must carry an identification card stating their name, rank, service number and photograph. If in uniform, the officer will wear a name plate with the police star on the badge as well as epaulettes indicating rank. You can ask plain clothes policemen and those in uniform to show you their identification cards.
Key control
Keeping keys safe is another priority:
- Identify keys by means of codes instead of writing on labels which gate or door they are for.
- Never hide any keys in traditional places, such as in pot plants or under doormats.
- Keys in the keyhole on the inside of the front or back door should be turned to avoid easy removal.
- Insert barring devices in keyholes.
- Change locks when keys are lost.
Communication
You should have two systems - a landline telephone and a cellphone.
Have the telephone installed where it is easily accessible from anywhere in the house.
Tell your children not to tell callers about the adults who are at home when they answer the phone.
For further information and other safety tips, visit the SAPS website.
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