One of the best tips to increase your home safety, is to ensure that your premises has sufficient lighting. Time-activated lights make it seem as if someone is home even if you’re not, and make criminals think twice about targeting your home. Motion-activated lights are also a good call as this will give them a fright and expose them if they are not careful. The key to avoiding your dogs setting off the lights, is to place them away from the areas they sleep or prowl in at night.
Spes-Plan Security recommends that residents with electronic security systems ensure that they are functioning properly. Test your panic buttons regularly, but remember to contact the control room to warn them.
If you see any suspicious people, let your security company, community policing forum or neighbourhood watch know immediately. Spes-Plan warns against going out in the dark to check for criminal activity and urges residents to rather call security outfits for assistance.
Never ignore your dogs’ behaviour. They often know when something is wrong and can tip you off to a potential attack.
If you have a licensed firearm, do not fire warning shots indiscriminately. Make sure that you know where you aiming, like soft soil, grass, a big tree or into the air. The exception is when you or others in your company are being seriously threatened and you need to protect yourself.
Owners of weapons are urged to continually polish their skills and practise regularly to ensure that they’ll be able to competently use their firearms.
Spes-Plan also recommends that women get to know their husbands’ firearms and be able to handle them with ease and confidence in case of an emergency.
It suggests that people think of possible emergency scenarios and how they should deal with all eventualities. People tend to lose all rationality during emergencies and practising a plan of action might equip you to better handle it.
If you are in a dangerous situation, do not try to be the hero, as this can further endanger you and others. Criminals are normally full of adrenalin or agitated and nervous during a crime and it is not a good idea to provoke them.
By cooperating, you can put them at ease and avoid a situation where one of them gets spooked and injures you or your relatives.
Lastly, residents should get to know the people in their neighbourhood, as these are the first people you can turn to in case of emergencies.
Hold a braai or urge them to join a neighbourhood watch or WhatsApp group so you can keep abreast of activities in the area.
