WHILE most people want nothing more than to be indoors and cosy after dark in winter, darkness provides the cover criminals need to break into houses undetected or wait in the shadows for residents to arrive home, says ADT Security’s district manager, Ivan Govender.
“Most of us don’t favour nocturnal outings in winter, criminals do. It’s important for residents to be extra vigilant and perhaps reassess their security routines in winter,” he said.
While an increase in criminal activity is mostly due to the early onset of darkness, Govender says there are a few factors which influence higher crime levels in winter.
Residents often keep animals indoors, out of the cold, and as a result don’t set their home alarm systems at night. With dogs indoors, there’s also no early-warning for residents should criminals enter the property.
The risk of load shedding is much higher during winter. This impacts directly on lighting, non-functional gate motors and security systems, in general, if the necessary back up power is not in place.
Govender said criminals are often on the lookout for vehicles that are left idling and unattended while the owner waits for the car to warm up, and urged motorists to never leave a vehicle unlocked or running unattended.
He advised residents to keep the following in mind. ” Outside lights should be left on if you know you’re going to get home after dark, and residents should set external beams early in the evening, just after you get home.
“Check the tensioning of electric fencing as it shrinks in colder weather and this can cause false alarms. Link smoke detectors to your alarm system, as fires during winter can be caused by heaters, electrical appliances and the cosy fireplace left burning when you go to bed,” he said.
Govender urged residents to be extra vigilant when leaving and arriving home.
“If you notice anything suspicious alert your security company or the SAPS immediately,” he said.
