Domestic Watch shares tips on crime prevention
Topics discussed included how to avoid dangerous situations and how to prevent crime as far as possible.
A DOMESTIC Watch meeting was held at the Linhill Soccer Club on March 20. The topics discussed included how to avoid dangerous situations and how to prevent crime as far as possible.
Linda Goodenough, community development manager at Fidelity ADT Security, gave domestics who attended some very important, useful and life-saving tips in case they find themselves in the middle of a robbery, life-threatening crime situation or any other kind of dangerous situation.
Linda also shared tips on how to prevent crime from happening altogether as far as possible. Some important tips included:
• When you walk in public, walk with a purpose. Don’t dawdle and start conversations. Don’t advertise your belongings to the world.
• Only store bare necessities in your handbag – leave important documents safe at home. When carrying money with you, disperse it across various parts of your body and not in one place.
• Listen to robbers if they have a weapon. They often make drastic decisions when they feel threatened. Criminals know what they’re doing, so don’t try to outsmart them.
• When you see someone trying to break in, use the panic button and call the homeowner – leave the phone call on at all times.
• Think “what if”. Have a plan in your head for when you find yourself in danger, so that you know what to do if it happens.
• Get to know your neighbours so that they can help if something bad happens. Be prepared to help them, too.
• When a gunshot goes off, lie down flat on the ground immediately.
• When a robber holds you hostage, talk to him/her calmly if you need to do something. Don’t make jerky movements as they might think you’re trying to trick them and get angry or violent.
• Be sure the children know what to do and how to act during a dangerous situation. Teach them the emergency numbers.
• Have a secret code word that you and your family, employer and emergency contact person know. Call them and use this code word when you find yourself in danger.
• Know your address and the nearest street corner.
• Be headstrong and tell yourself: “I will survive, I will not die today.”
• Whatever may happen, don’t be ashamed. Talk to someone and get mental or emotional support.
It was a very interesting and informative morning for all the domestic workers from Linmeyer, Oakdene, The Hill and surrounding areas who attended.
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