Safety tips you need to remember
PAULSHOF – This is how you can protect yourself from crime this festive season and beyond.
Sandton Police Station’s spokesperson, Captain Granville Meyer advised residents to remember that not everyone shares in our merriment.
The suburbs of Paulshof and Sunninghill within Fourways Review’s distribution area fall within the Sandton policing precinct.
He explained that there were grinches lurking about who are ready to swoop in and steal community members’ joy.
In order not to fall prey to that follow these simple crime prevention tips to make it harder for an opportunistic thief to ruin your holiday:
• Stay alert and be aware of what is going on
around you
• Park your car in a well-lit area close to windows
and lock the door
• Don’t leave packages and boxes visible
through car windows. Lock them in the trunk or
take them directly home
• Don’t carry large amounts of cash. Pay with
debit, or credit cards whenever possible
• Don’t get overburdened with packages, always
keep one hand free. Don’t leave your packages
unattended – thieves are always looking for
unattended packages and shopping bags
• Keep your purse close to your body, not
dangling loosely. Put your wallet in your front
pants pocket or in an inside coat pocket.
Meyer stated that when shopping online, be alert and protect yourself against fraud or ID theft:
• Familiarise yourself with the rules and policies
of online stores and auction sites
• Only shop with companies you know and make
sure that the sites comply with industry security
standards
• Keep your personal information private and
keep your passwords secure. Do not respond
to requests for a password or credit card
information unless you initiate the transaction.
He stressed not to make your office a target for crooks looking for extra holiday cash and:
• Do not leave gifts lying around an empty office.
Secure them in a safe place or lock your office
door if possible
• Always keep your keys and wallet with you.
Secure purses and other valuables in a locked
drawer or cabinet
• Don’t be embarrassed to challenge an
unfamiliar face in the office
• Secure your office when stepping out, even for
a minute
• Don’t announce that you are leaving town
during the holidays. Don’t offer information
about co-workers’ plans to callers
• Keep petty cash in a secured area.
