Police warn of prevailing housebreaking incidents

HOUSEBREAKINGS within the Brighton Beach policing precinct remain problematic. The station’s Captain Louise le Roux, said these crimes are committed at all times of the day.

She said the Bluff is the most affected with sporadic incidents occurring within the sector of Clairwood. In hopes to halt the trend, she offered guidelines to assist homeowners in minimising the risk of falling prey to housebreaking incidents.

• Befriend your neighbour and exchange contact details. They may observe suspicious movement within your premises and alert you. This will enable you to activate your security company or the police.

• Have security features fitted to all doors and windows. Ensure that these fixtures are of high quality and utilised at all times.

• Ensure that all doors and windows, including those of outbuildings, are securely locked before leaving the premises. This also applies to when your family retires for the night.

• Don’t place spare keys under your doormats or hide them in pot plants. Don’t hang your keys on a key rack where they will be visible through open doors and windows. Leave them in a drawer.

• Trim and maintain hedges, bushes and shrubs continuously. Avoid planting trees at the entrance or exit gates of your home. Those with criminal intentions will use these to hide their presence or to climb to enter or exit your premises.

• A watchdog is a good alarm system. Let your dogs roam the property at night, don’t lock them away or tie them up. Teach your dogs not to take food from strangers. A small dog inside your home is also a good alarm system (ensure that you place a notice on your gate that a dog is on the prowl on your premises).

• Install an alarm system, which should also be extended to your outbuildings and garage for maximum protection. Test your panic buttons at least once a month for functionality, or after an electrical storm.

• Installing motion-activated floodlights. Ensure that your house has sufficient lighting, especially at night.

• When going away for long periods, make arrangements for your post to be removed from the post box and cancel newspaper deliveries.

• Lock your valuables, such as firearms, jewellery and cash in a safe that is affixed to a wall inside a cupboard.

• Keep a record of the serial numbers of electrical goods. This will assist the police to track and trace suspects when stolen items are found from secondhand goods dealers.

• Ensure that your house number is clearly visible. This will help with prompt response in cases of emergency by the police and your security provider.

• Condition your children and their friends to lock gates and doors behind them when entering the home and leaving.