The South  African Police Services (SAPS) have issued a list of safety tips  to be used over the holiday season as follows:

• Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding nearby key holders, in case of an emergency
• Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property
• Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post. A bulging post box is a dead giveaway that you are not at home
• If hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly
• Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home
• Ensure that all your outside locks are a minimum of four lever locks or double cylinder security locks
• Never leave a key in the inside of an outer door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock
• Having security gates fitted on outer doors is a highly effective security measure that gives you an extra line of defence
• Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically
• Full fencing and sturdy gates are a good deterrent
• Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer
• Do not leave tools like ladders or spades outside, as they can be used to break into your house
• Clear signage indicating that you have security also helps to discourage burglars