Your home is your safe haven; therefore, you should feel safe there! With this in mind, Newcastle SAPS would like to share some safety precautions and tips on how to make your home safer.

Safety precautions

Ensure that all doors are locked at all times, and that windows are closed when you are not at home.

Large dogs serve as a deterrent to criminals. At least one dog should be trained to sleep inside the house.

If you leave your residence, inform your family or neighbours of your intended destination, time you expect to return, and the route you will be driving, especially if you live in a rural area.

Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, ladders, etc (that can be used in an attack), are locked away when not in use.

Vary your daily routine.

Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights. You should remain awake for a while. You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.

Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.

If you are unsure about the security status of your home after returning from work or a visit, for example if your dogs do not come to the gate, do not enter your home. Instead, contact your neighbours and make sure everything is fine.

Identify relatively safe places of refuge, such as the bathroom or storeroom. The fewer the windows and doors these rooms have, the better.

Involve employees, as they are part of the family. Employees must get involved in maintaining security on an equal footing.

Clear areas around gates of bushes and other hiding places.

“Please report suspicious behaviour and information to the police,” advises SAPS Newcastle’s Corporate Communications officer, Lizzy Arumugam.

Take photographs of all employees

Taking photographs of all your employees could be to your advantage – to identify them if needed.

Reward your employees when useful information is provided that contributes to the prevention of crime.

Do not employ casual workers without a reference.

Keep copies of all your employees’ IDs.

Ensure that you have a good relationship with your neighbours so that you will be in a good position to support and help each other.

Alarm systems

An alarm system, preferably connected to an armed response company, can act as an effective deterrent.

Newcastle SAPS recommends having a siren or alarm on the roof that can be heard over a long distance and that can be activated by means of a switch or panic button in the house if you live in a rural area. A few different switches or buttons in different rooms of the house should be installed.

An alarm must have the capability to warn the occupants of any intrusion into the house.

Examples of alarm systems:

• Mechanical and/or electrical (purchased types)
• Improvised systems
• Threaded tins
• Threaded pieces of iron
• Gravel on window panes, pathways or around the house
• Obstacles that can make a noise when moved
• Biological systems such as dogs or other types of animals.

Fences or walls

A high fence around the house, with lockable gates, is much safer than high walls due to the advantage of the improved visibility it provides. The primary aim of the fence is to make access or intrusion difficult and to allow dogs to move freely around the house.

Ensure that your gates are locked at all times and that the keys cannot be reached easily and are not lying around uncontrolled.

Newcastle SAPS recommends having security gates with sturdy locks in front of each outer door, as well as burglar proofing covering all windows.

The following devices prevent easy access:

• Window bars
• Security door and gates
• Razor wire
• Additional locking devices on doors
• Strengthening of doors
• Peepholes in doors
• Safety chains attached to doors
• Intercom system between the home and gate, front door or garage

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel.