Safety advice for residential estates and complexes

Good personal safety habits should never be neglected or forgotten.

They play a major role in preventing potential crime and should be encouraged even if you live behind the walls of a residential estate or security complex.

This is according to Charnel Hattingh, group head of communications and marketing at Fidelity Services Group.

“Residents often become complacent about their security and think they can drop their guard when they drive through the estate’s gates. Sadly, this has led to cases where, for example, criminals grab valuable items through windows left open or gain access via sliding doors not locked.

“We urge residents to remember they still have a part to play in keeping themselves and fellow residents safe even if they live inside the boundaries of a security estate.”

She said crime syndicates often target lifestyle estates because those residents become complacent about security.

“A serious problem is the information passed on by people who live on or have regular jobs within estates. Armed with information and their reconnaissance, the criminals keep finding new ways of gaining access to estates.

“Estate security companies are constantly looking for ways to improve their service to residents. They introduced a range of technological measures, such as access control systems, movement-activated cameras, and constant patrols.

“Regardless of the measures that may be in place, it remains vital that residents play their part. Personal involvement in security is always required.”

Hattingh offers the following safety tips for estate residents:

• Do not rely on perimeter security alone. While perimeter security measures successfully decreased crime in estates, residents still need to take precautions in their homes. Once criminals gain access to properties within estates, they often have free rein because residents become complacent about their home security within these developments.

Lock the doors and windows and ensure vehicles are locked, even if parked in a garage. Do not leave valuables lying around, particularly where visible to passers-by. If you have an alarm system installed, ensure it is armed when you are away and also at night when you are asleep. Most systems operate in zones, making it easy to activate those zones of the house you are not using.

• Check the references of your domestic worker and gardener. Criminals often conduct crimes within estates with the help of domestic staff members. Properly check the references of your domestic worker and gardener and educate them on keeping your home secure when you are not there.

• Watch out if there is construction taking place. Having construction workers on site within estates has historically resulted in elevated crime levels. Whether this directly results from construction workers having access to the estate, or because of the increase in traffic in and out of the estate, remains a mystery. Take extra precautions.

• Report suspicious behaviour. One modus operandi within estates is for a crime syndicate to move into a home for a while. During this time, they monitor the behaviour of residents and initiate house break-ins in the estate before moving out.

• Be alert when entering and exiting the estate. Criminals have targeted residents leaving from or returning to estates and hijacked them a few metres from the gates or followed them inside and robbed them by tailgating them as they enter the premises. People relax and become less alert the closer they get to home. Do not think you can become complacent because there is a security guard at the gate.

• Know your neighbours. Have the contact details for the homeowners next door so that you can reach them in case of an emergency or if you suspect that something might be amiss. Keep the contact details of security teams deployed on the estate close by, so that you can contact them in case of an emergency or if you notice suspicious behaviour.