7 tips for keeping safe after dark

It’s no secret that crime in South Africa is high with homeowners more vulnerable at night during load-shedding.

Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, Charnel Hattingh, said extra precautions should be taken for safeguarding.

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‘With winter bringing shorter daylight hours, it is important to think about a change in routine, however minor, to improve personal and home safety. We also have load-shedding to contend with,’ she said.

‘Shorter daylight hours also put pedestrians and commuters at higher risk, as well as people who exercise, like joggers and cyclists.’

7 tips for staying safe at home at night

1. Install CCTV cameras that give a broad view of the street and driveway. Good quality cameras can capture precise images of criminals lurking on the streets in the dead of night and react to activity in real-time via an alert to your cell phone or by triggering your house alarm.
2. Sufficient lighting around your house is very important. Motion detector lights are a good deterrent for driveway and other dark outdoor areas. Criminals don’t want to be detected so these lights will scare them off. Motion detector or sensor lights are ideal for people who leave home in the dark and get home after dark.
3. Lock all doors, switch on lights, close curtains and activate outdoor beams as soon as it gets dark.
4. Check all outside areas, like garage doors and sheds, are locked.
5. Clear your driveway and gate area of shrubs and foliage in which criminals could hide and make sure the driveway is well lit.
6. Keep a torch and batteries in an accessible spot in the house and in the car in case of an emergency.
7. Test all security systems and panic buttons regularly.

6 tips for people exercising in the dark

1. Leave valuables like your jewellery at home. It is a good idea to have a phone with you, but keep it well concealed.
2. Carry some form of ID.
3. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
4. Wear light-coloured or reflective clothing.
5. Exercise in a group rather than on your own.
6. Stick to well-lit routes.

Hattingh added that common sense is still our best defence.

‘Avoid risky areas and situations by following you gut instinct and being aware of your surroundings at all times.

‘Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable and must be on the lookout for suspicious people or cars on their route and report this to the police or a security company immediately.’