Tips on keeping children safe during the holidays

BURGERSFORT – During school holidays most parents are working while children are left alone at home without any adult supervision. Parents must take the responsibility to inform their children about the dangers that lurk outside.

Lt Col Rebecca Malatji, station commander of the local police issued some safety tips for the school holidays.

“There has been an increase of reported shoplifting cases since the schools closed last week. In most of these cases minors were involved. Parents should not allow their children to visit shopping centres and stores without any adult supervision. Don’t send your children to withdraw money at automated teller machines (ATM) alone. Criminals target children when they were alone, as they know they are defenseless”.

Malatji also added that parents should advise their children to keep all doors locked when they were alone at home.

“Children must never allow strangers to enter the property without any parent or adult’s supervision. It is the parents’ duty to teach children never to trust any strangers. The best way for parents to assure that their children are safe while they are working, is to employ someone to look after the children, especially when they are still young,” she added.