Your trusted neighbour is your best security this festive season according to Linden police spokesperson Captain Walter Spencer.
He advised residents to check and ensure that their alarm systems are working. He said residents should know their employees such as gardeners and domestic workers.
“Residents must do the background check of the people they employ at their homes. Get police clearance, proper references, home addresses and the next of kin details of your employees,” he advised.
According to Spencer, this was also contributing to the rate of crime in the precinct as most residents trusted strangers with their security codes and home keys. He warned that trusting strangers creates an opportunity for criminals to victimise residents.
He said it was extremely difficult for the police to avert crime incidents if it was an inside job communicated by the employed people. “When we patrol around the suburbs we always look for suspicious people but if they are working at the households, we will not know if they are trusted people or potential criminals,” he said.
He explained that residents should be safe this festive season as crime incidents were not that high during this time unlike throughout the year. “Crime is high throughout the year and the holiday season is not higher than normal times and we try to intensify our efforts,” he said.
He indicated that residents should stop perceiving crime as a seasonal trend which will pass after the festive season, as it happens throughout the year.
He concluded that residents should always be responsible and strive by all means to take away opportunities for criminals.
Details: Linden Police Station, 011 888 9214.
