Homeowners are encouraged to re-evaluate their home security measures by assessing their security strategies to ensure their households can handle the cold weather. Power cuts significantly affect home security, which could compromise one’s safety.
Group head of marketing and communications for Fidelity ADT, Charnel Hattingh, said the fire risk increases as it gets darker earlier in winter and people use heaters, electrical appliances and alternative power sources like gas or the fireplace left burning when heading to bed.
“It is a good idea to link smoke detectors to your alarm system,” she added.
Safety winter tips from Fidelity ADT:
• Ensure your kerb-side house number is visible in case of an emergency. It could save critical minutes for the response team in an emergency;
• If you bring your dog(s) inside, ask your security company to partition your alarm system so that it still offers an early warning system with pets in the house;
• Ensure you have backup power supplies to keep lighting, gate motors and security systems working;
• Set external beams in the early evening once everyone is home;
• Be vigilant when leaving and arriving home. Criminals take advantage of the longer hours of darkness in winter and are unafraid of the cold;
• Ensure your security service provider has the most up-to-date key-holder contact details.
Hattingh also urges homeowners to install alarms and panic buttons and book a technical service call if necessary. She also recommends getting a professional to check the tensioning of electric fencing, saying it shrinks in colder weather and can cause false alarms.
“The best is to start at the perimeter of your property and work your way in. Think like a criminal and evaluate whether your fencing/wall, garden, windows, doors, shed, or garage have weaknesses a criminal could exploit.
“As we tend to gather everyone indoors earlier and perhaps change the times we go to the gym or walk the dog, security systems like garden beams and sensor lights must also work correctly.
“Most people still need to leave for work and school at the same time, regardless of whether the sun is up or not. To stay safe, be more vigilant in the early morning and at dusk when you come home.”
“Security needs to change with the seasons. As we prepare to spend more time indoors, your security routines need to be as prepared for winter,” Hattingh concludes.
