Home security tips for the festive season

The countdown to the summer holidays has begun.

Bags are being packed and the itinerary is checked. Lock up the house it’s nearly time to hit the road!
However, have you done the necessary checks to ensure that your home and belongings are secure while you are not there?

According to Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, spokesperson for the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS), and Captain Nomsa Sekele, spokesperson for Benoni SAPS, securing your home starts with good perimeter security.

“Once your home’s perimeter has been breached, it gives criminals time to break into the home and help themselves to whatever they desire,” said Giblin.

“Access gates into the property, such as sliding gates must not be able to lift off the rails and gate motors should not be easily tampered with.”

He adds that additional provisions such as spikes or barbed wire should ideally be added to perimeter fences and walls in an attempt to further deter criminals.

“If you have installed electric fencing, ensure that it is connected to your alarm system,” he said.

“This will serve as an early warning should intruders attempt to breach the property.”

Other security tips include:
• Have a reputable security company that is active in your community conduct a security analysis to establish your individual security needs.

• Opt to have beams installed inside your perimeter.
This serves as an early warning should perpetrators gain access to your property.
Ensure that should the alarm be activated that you can establish which part of the property has been breached.

• Enlist the services of a reputable house sitter to look after your property and pets, or ask a friend, neighbour or family member for help.
Regular movement creates the impression that someone is home thus making your home unappealing to would-be criminals.

• Create the illusion of someone being home.
Set your lights on an automatic timer, this will create the impression that someone is home.
Ensure that certain lights switch on and off at designated times.
Ask a neighbour to set out your wheelie bin on collection days and put it back within the property once collected.
It is further advisable to ask that any mail is removed from your mailbox.

• Request that anyone actively looking after your property during your absence park inside the driveway and not just in front of the gate.
Criminals are always looking for an easy target and quick stops are a clear indicator that the property is not currently occupied.

• Inform your security company call centre of your intended day of departure and arrival for frequent patrols to be conducted.

• Test your alarm system to ensure that it is in good working order and that your security company’s response team responds to any activations.

• Ensure that anything of value has been packed away and is out of sight.
“Criminals are looking for a quick steal, so do not give them bait to want to gain access to your property,” said Sekele.

• Sign up for your area’s community or CPF WhatsApp groups.
Using private messages inform patrollers if you were to go on leave to keep a close eye on your property.

• Know your neighbour.

• Report any suspicious persons or vehicles in your area.

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