Make safety a habit and not an afterthought

Crime-prevention tips often seem like common sense. However, many people fail to put in place the simplest of anti-crime measures either because they are not disciplined enough or because they believe it will never happen to them. It does and it is too late to be sensible when you have an intruder in your home. Safety consciousness needs to become a habit not an afterthought.

Looking at the bigger picture is always a good place to start. Be aware of crime trends in your suburb and even in your road. Get to know and stay in contact with neighbours so you are aware of what is happening close to your home, especially when there is construction activity in the area.

Bogus service providers

One of the biggest problems we are encountering is bogus service providers. People arrive at the gate, claiming to want to read a water meter or repair something. Often domestic staff let them in without so much as asking them for identification.

Another problem is visits from hawkers. They ring intercoms and doorbells and, when they get no response, they and their helpers force down gates and break through doors to enter properties.

Hawkers and unfamiliar pedestrians also tend to watch houses they wish to target, noting when people leave and arrive back. As a result, a growing number of break-ins occur in the early mornings, just after residents leave for work. The most common times for burglaries are between 7.30 and 8.45 in the morning and between 10am and 12.30pm.

Unfortunately, anyone who remains behind is extremely vulnerable, which is why strict security measures need to be taken even in daylight hours.

In many cases, those left at home are domestic servants. Homeowners need to speak to their employees about crime regularly, warning them about particular things that are happening in the area and telling them to keep doors and security gates locked to protect themselves as well as their properties. Homeowners need to be very specific about who may be let into their properties and domestics need to have clear instructions to ask for identification and told when to expect service providers to arrive.

A good way of educating domestic workers is to ensure that they attend domestic worker forums organised by neighbourhood policing forums or anti-crime organisations. Here, they are advised on security measures.

Burglaries linked to domestic workers

The other side of the coin when it comes to employees is that a disturbingly high percentage of residential burglaries can be directly linked to domestic workers. Low wages, disagreements with employers, peer pressure from others involved in crime and even unintentional talking to family and friends can pose a problem.

Most importantly, homeowners need to keep details about their employees. No matter how long someone has been working for them, a homeowner should always keep a copy of an employee's ID, a head-and-shoulders photograph of him or her and a home address. Details should be checked and updated regularly to make sure they remain current.

People need to make sure that they are employing people who are legally permitted to work in South Africa.

When it comes to home security, people need to start with the basics. Ensure your doors are sturdy and that they are securely locked when not in use. Even when you are home, don't leave your garage, front or back door open or even partially open. Ensure that your gates cannot be forced off the runners, or pushed open. Install spacers or locks or bolts to prevent this.

Locks need to be checked regularly and replaced if keys are lost. Only open windows that have quality burglar bars. Windows left open should not be visible from the road.

Trim vegetation

Homeowners should ensure that the perimeters of properties are well secured, trimming vegetation and cutting off any overhanging branches that could either act as hiding places or help criminals climb into a property. Ensure that entry points are well lit and replace fused bulbs immediately. Use lights with motion sensors in other strategic areas.

Homeowners should upgrade and update alarm systems whenever possible, keep them serviced and check that they are fully operational regularly. Make sure that you know the phone numbers of your security company, those of any sectoral security services and the police and make sure that you report all and any suspicious activity.