Tips to avoid becoming a robbery victim
House and business robberies are a concern to SAPS.
Heidelberg SAPS station commander Colonel Phiwe Ndwandwe has reported a spike in residential and business robberies recently.
The hotspots are Heidelberg CBD, Heidelberg Central, Rensburg and industrial areas. The majority of the robberies are in the evening.
At all times security measures need to be improved as criminals find new ways to commit specific crimes.
“At times the patrolling SAPS members have found that people are their worst enemies as they do not secure or lock their doors, garages and windows,” said Ndwandwe.
“It gives the criminals easy access to the premises.”
The following tips can help prevent a break-in:
• Make your home intruder safe by making it difficult to gain entrance.
• Lock up as many doors as possible.
• Ensure that your garage door is closed and locked at all times.
• Before going away ensure that your garden is clean.
• Sliding doors are the easiest to open. Get special locks and security bars installed.
• Social media can become your enemy. Do not share holiday plans on social media.
• Anything lying around or not locked away will tempt a thief.
• Install adequate lights around your premises.
• Overgrown trees and shrubbery needs to be cut back.
• Ensure that alarms are in working order.
The more measures you put in place the more likely it is that you will not be part of the statistics.
