Fidelity ADT encourages vigilance and awareness over holiday period

Most schools in the country are set to close on June 24 for the mid-year holidays.

In a media statement shared by Charnel Hattingh, Fidelity ADT’s head of communications and marketing said, “We have all worked hard these first six months of the year and deserve time to relax.

It is important to remember a few basic safety tips which are valuable when you are in any kind of environment where you are surrounded by lots of people.”
Hattingh added it boiled down to vigilance and awareness.

“You can make a massive difference by paying attention to what happens around you and by being alert. Criminals are often looking for people who are distracted, as they offer an easy way to quickly steal something. It can be anything from a pickpocket stealing your wallet while you stand in a queue waiting to buy a movie ticket, to someone grabbing your handbag you left in your shopping trolley while you turn your back.”

She urged people to act if they felt anything or anyone was suspicious.

“If you think someone is following you in a mall or if it feels like a group of people are intentionally crowding you while you wait to collect an order at a fast-food outlet, look for help or ask the people to give you some space. Trusting your gut feel is always a good idea.”

Hattingh also recommends the following, which could help when you are out and about these holidays:

• Leave expensive items such as jewellery at home
• If you have a daily walking schedule to and from the mall or office, change it often so that your movement does not become predictable
• If someone stops you to ask for assistance, keep a safe distance away from them and keep an eye for other movement around you
• Avoid drawing money from an ATM late at night, and if it is urgent rather consider going to an ATM in a well-lit space where a security officer is on duty
• Leave the headphones at home. Anything that causes distraction is to be avoided.

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