Ways to keep your home and family safe
Local security company gives tips to keep your home and family safe this long weekend.
Willie Steyn, owner of Willie Steyn Security, said people can avoid crime by simply acting responsibly.
“We are committed to informing people about the little things that matter, to ensure that residents don’t get targeted for theft, burglaries, attacks and other criminal elements,” he said.
First, he said it is important that all gate motors are fitted with anti-theft brackets to prevent them being dismantled. Then, CCTV systems need to have at least one camera facing towards the gate and gate motor to monitor burglars nearby.
“If you don’t have the finances to have CCTV installed, you can buy a dummy camera for less than R300. These really help, as no one is likely to know that it’s a dummy,” he said.
He advised people that no vehicles, bakkies, motorbikes or any valuable assets should be visible from the street, as attempts to steal them will be made.
“Gate motors that are programmed for auto close could be very dangerous if residents press the button on their remotes to open the gates and then just drive off without waiting for the gates to close. The time before the auto close kicks in invites wrongdoers/ thieves onto the premises. Thieves are very clever, they walk around the streets all day monitoring the houses and the way residents go out and enter their premises, and they pick up on easy ways to gain access to premises.
“We normally remove the auto close function from sliding gates, but if it is really necessary, all residents must be trained to use the function responsibly and ensure that gates are fully closed before driving off,” he said.
Willie went on to say that when driving, the vehicle’s occupants must always ensure that the doors are locked and windows are closed, especially at traffic lights and stop streets, because these are the places where the hijackers may be.
“When vehicles are parked, all valuables must be removed from the interior as thieves will break the windows to steal them. Also ensure that you park your vehicle where there are car guards and where it is safe.”
He continued, saying when people go away they need to make sure that they leave someone to look after their houses.
“Newspapers/ advertisements lying in front of your house must be removed, and no lights should be switched on for long periods, as these indicate to robbers that no one is home. They will monitor the situation and will make attempts to break in.”
Willie also said that the thieves are extremely well-informed about alarm systems, electric fences, and CCTV systems.
“They know how to bypass these security systems to obtain access to your premises easily, so it is a must to always be one step ahead of them, by ensuring that you have the latest technology systems installed or upgraded to secure your property and your life.”
He said if you live on a farm or plot, you should ensure that you have an electric fence installed around your house. The electric fence must activate an audible alarm if there are attempts to gain access to your premises unlawfully, and the fence must be connected to a radio alarm to notify your security company immediately. The security guards will be at your premises within less than four minutes in most cases.
“It is always best to have an electric fence and a CCTV system installed at your premises. Lately, all electric fences, CCTV systems and gate motors can operate on solar panels that provide the required power, so residents don’t need to worry about security systems going off during power failures,” Willie added.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
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