A resident from Rangeview was set back thousands of rand after his house was robbed while his alarm was armed.
On 11 April the News reported on Kobus Snyman who lost R350 000 worth of household items and a car over the festive season last year.
ADT’s Subscriber Business and Inlands Region General Manager Theunis Kotze commented about the incident.
“Alarm systems communicate with monitoring centres primarily through a one-way radio frequency as is the case with Mr Snyman. Ad hoc failure is unusual but not impossible, and can be triggered by a number of factors including environmental factors such as bad weather, loading shedding and similar circumstances,” Kotze said.
In addition ADT claims to carry out daily automated tests of all radios to ensure the radios and signalling networks are in working order.
In Kotze’s statement he sent to the News, he suggested that should signal failure be picked up, ADT then alerts the customer via sms to request him/her to test their home alarm system urgently.
“Mr Snyman’s case is very unusual. Our records have not picked up any inconsistencies in the signalling environment and we are investigating various scenarios thoroughly. We have ruled out the possibility of jamming.”
Homeowners are urged to keep the following tips in mind that can help reduce the risk of crime to or on their property:
• Ensure your alarm is in working order.
It’s natural to forget that your alarm system, like all household appliances, needs to be tested regularly to ensure it is working properly. Testing should be done outside of peak hours (after 9am and before 4pm and after 8pm). You simply need to phone the Monitoring Centre. They will put you on test mode for a period. The alarm and all panics should be tested. An sms will be sent when a signal is received. If a fault is discovered, it should be reported to ADT’s technical team immediately. Also remember most insurance companies require clients also to test their alarm systems regularly too.
• Load shedding or a power failure is a risk to all homeowners.
Your ADT alarm has a 12-volt system that is powered by a battery and not by electricity. The electricity that is required is used to charge the battery. When the power goes down, the transformer stops and the battery is no longer charging. However, it still will run the alarm system in a completely normal way for up to eight hours depending on [1] the age of the battery and its strength (if it’s a new battery it will last longer) and [2] the size of the system that it powers.
• Advise your security company of your holiday plans and ensure that you supply all the necessary information on a Holiday Form, in case of an emergency.
Also consider alternate access options into your home like a lock box. Inform your neighbours and neighbourhood watch of your holiday plans so they can keep an eye on your property while you are away
• If you have hired a house sitter, teach them how to use your alarm correctly.
• Check your perimeter security for any weak areas. Full fencing and sturdy gates are a good deterrent.
• Have bright, wide-range exterior lighting, preferably on a timer.
“Investing extra time in securing your home while you are away is as important as planning your holiday,” concluded Kotze.
