Greenside residents are urged to be on high alert due to theft of gate motors
There has been 10 reported incidents of the theft of gate motors in Greenside in the past week.
Theft of gate motors is on the rise in Greenside.
Charnel Hattingh, group head of marketing and communication at Fidelity ADT said, “Last week alone there were 10 reported incidents. There is a thriving black market for gate motor parts. Stolen gate motors are either stripped down and their various components [batteries, gearboxes] sold individually or sold as complete units to unsuspecting homeowners by these ‘access automation bandits’ as they are often referred to.
She added there was also a worrying trend of suspects deactivating the gate motor and accessing the property while it was on manual override.
Here are some useful tips for safeguarding your gate motor against theft and your property against a home invasion:
- Ensure that your gate motor is secured in a steel casing or bracket which is locked at all times. Suspects often just place their hands through the gate if your gate motor is unsecured and installed right next to a ‘palisade-type gate’. They are then able to switch the gate to manual and access your property.
- Make use of a good quality lock to secure the motor’s theft-resistant cage. Preferably opt for an insurance-rated padlock
- Install adequate anti-lift brackets and weld a piece of flat bar onto the gate rack to prevent thieves from bending the rack upwards.
- Combine mechanical anti-theft systems, such as traditional theft-resistant cages with electronic notification devices, for example, sound bombs which can send notifications to users when the device’s inputs are triggered.
“Your electric gate should be one of the first perimeter deterrents to protect you from crime. Activate early-warning systems such as garden beams and or electric fencing and ensure these are linked to armed response. We need to do our bit to reduce crime by making it harder for criminals. Safeguard your gate motors.”
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