UPDATE: ADT refuses to terminate contract (Video)

UPDATE: 28 July 2014, 11:30am –

ADT client, Dr Chris Venter was told by the security company that he would have to buy himself out of a two year contract.

This in spite of CCTV footage showing criminals entering his home while an ADT officer in his vehicle apparently stood by and did nothing.

(Scroll down to view the video)

Venter accused the ADT reaction officer of “working with the criminals” who burgled his home.

Venter said even after he showed the security company CCTV footage of robbery suspects entering his home, while an officer in a vehicle belonging to the company was seen stationed right outside his home and appeared to do nothing, they still would not release him from his contract.

After reading the security provider’s comment on the story, Security company stands by as thieves enter home, week ending 2 August, Venter said he was disappointed, not only because the had to buy himself out of his contract, but also at the security company’s response to the incident.

“The area manager still failed to say the officer failed his voice analysis test, and I was surprised to read [in your article] about how they gave me formal feedback,” he said.

“I was always ignored when I phoned them until I eventually got one of the internal investigators phone number from the police.”

When asked under which circumstances a client could end their contract, Clive Humphrey managing director of ADT central region said terminating contracts, whether as a buyout or being released from a contract, is decided on a case by case basis.

“All the facts need to be taken into consideration,” he said. “If service delivery failures of a serious nature are the basis of the case, we would release a customer from contract,” he said.

Watch the CCTV footage below:

Do you think that Dr Chris Venter should have paid the remaining amount of his contract to the security company?

Tell us by posting on our timeline, Rosebank Killarney Gazette or tweet us @RK_Gazette

Add us on BBM for the latest news in your community. PIN: 29C7976C

Related article:

Expert recommends smaller security companies

Initial report: This was the message by Houghton resident Dr Chris Venter who has accused an ADT reaction officer of “working with criminals” who burgled his home.

Venter showed The Gazette CCTV footage of robbery suspects entering his home while the officer in a vehicle belonging to his security provider, which is stationed right outside his home, appears to do nothing.

The vehicle is seen patrolling the area and driving up and down the street before pulling over in front of the victim’s gate, which, in the footage, is clearly wide open.

Moments later, two men are seen running onto the property, and sometime later, a black Toyota Corolla is seen entering and later exiting the premises – the men are not seen exiting, suggesting they left in the Toyota that is suspected to have loaded the stolen goods.

Venter, who is originally from Klerksdorp, said coming from a smaller town, when going away on holiday, it was the norm for a homeowner to tell the security company that they would be away for a certain period.

“But I guess that’s not how things work here. The alarm at my house went off a few times on the days my family and I had been away, and I eventually had to tell the control room that I was not at the house and would only be back a few hours afterwards,” he explained.

Venter said according to the time on the CCTV footage, the burglary happened after he spoke to the control room, and that “another suspicious issue”, was that the vehicle seen patrolling in the footage was meant to be patrolling in the Bryanston area.

“It’s disturbing that you can pay someone to protect you and this could happen in front of their eyes,” he said.

Watch the CCTV footage below:

After the robbery, Venter claimed the security company was not forthcoming with information – until he sent them the footage.

“It was only after getting the footage, [that they responded] and wanted to meet with me. As well, it did not seem [that] their intention was to help me catch the culprit, but rather protect their name,” he added.

Venter alleged when action was taken against the suspected reaction officer, it was revealed the man had false documentation.

“There was also a delay from the police’s side, but the man was eventually arrested. When the matter got to court, it was dismissed because there wasn’t a DVD player to play the footage,” claimed Venter.

Hillbrow police spokesperson Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo said the security company official was arrested, however, the case was not prosecuted due to lack of evidence and no eyewitnesses.

Managing director ADT Central Region, Clive Humphrey said the security company was aware of the incident.

“The incident and allegations were fully investigated by our investigations department, and this included all the relevant staff providing formal statements and undergoing Layered Voice Analysis testing,” he said.

“The CCTV footage supplied by the client also formed part of the formal investigation, and though a reaction officer was arrested by the police following the incident, he was subsequently released due to lack of evidence.

“The client was given formal feedback following the investigation. We would like to assure all our customers that any allegations against our staff are treated very seriously.”

Because the reaction officer was released without prosecution, his employment at ADT was not terminated.

After seeing this video, do you trust your security company?

Tell us by posting on our timeline, Rosebank Killarney Gazette or tweet us @RK_Gazette

Add us on BBM for the latest news in your community. PIN: 29C7976C

You might also be interested in:

Police issue smash and grab warning

Keep your ward DA – get a bigger …