More and more incidents are reported in and around Ladysmith of homes being broken into, with many people looking for ways to avoid becoming a victim of this crime.
Here are some valuable tips you can implement at your home to safeguard yourself and your family from a possible break-in.
Avoid keeping large sums of money in your home. If you need to move large amounts of cash, engage the services of a cash-in-transit company.
Avoid keeping large amounts of valuable jewellery – even in your home safe – and more especially if you are a collector, ensure that your valuables are kept in a safety deposit box at a reputable bank.
Ensure that all windows and doors have proper security features fitted to them, since this can act as a deterrent. Check these security features regularly to see that they are still in place and are still effective.
Check all access points before you retire for the night to ensure that they are secured. Remember to utilise these security measures while at home too and not only when you leave the home vacant.
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Criminals generally study each and every move of their targets and know their pattern of movement, so be vigilant at all times. Be attentive when you are travelling to ensure that you are not being followed or watched. Report any suspicious persons/vehicles in the vicinity of your neighborhood or residence to the police immediately.
Network by keeping the telephone and cell-phone numbers of neighbours and friends close to you. Talk to each other and share information with police or the CPF that may be helpful to others. Remember that your vigilant observation of the world around you could save a life.
Invest in security cameras, an alarm system or even a panic alarm, as it is an effective deterrent. Engage your alarm system even while asleep at home.
Having a securely fenced property and dogs on the premises can also act as a deterrent.
If you are confronted by a criminal, do not try to protect your valuables; at the end of the day it is your life that is most important.
Ensure that you have proper details of all those employed to work at your home, including a copy of their ID and home addresses and next of kin. Screen employees and don’t just hire people off the street without checking into their references.
Have an agreement with your employees about a code word or password which repairmen or deliverymen must quote before allowing them to gain access to the property. Change these passwords regularly.
Ensure that domestic workers, etc, have access to emergency numbers. Encourage them to report suspicious activity to police as soon as they see it.
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