STEVEN King, of Waterfall Crime Watch, provides Highway residents with useful safety tips for the festive holidays.
“The first and most important rule is that safety starts with you. Your home, your street, your neighbourhood, so take responsibility and initiative,” said King.
- Invest in a good alarm system. “People spend thousands of rands on making our homes beautiful, but when it comes to investing in their protection they seem to fall down,” said King.
- Employ a reputable security company that understands your needs.
- Join a crime fighting initiative in your neighbourhood.
- Connect with your neighbours. According to King, residents should invest time to share their concerns with their neighbours, as they will be the nearest to you in a time in need, and if there is a healthy relationship it will pay dividends.
- Keep your verges clean and tidy, pick up any form of litter it may be a “marking” for would-be-criminals.
- Keep a look out for suspicious people or cars near your home and report it to authorities.
- Inform your staff who work for you not to allow anybody on the property unless confirmed by you.
At night the following tips should become almost religious,” said King.
- All “attractions” (such as cellphones and laptops) close to windows must be moved.
- Ladders, spades, forks and other “break-in tools” should be safely locked away.
- All curtains and blinds should be closed.
- Lock all doors and security gates in the home.
- Outside gates and doors (garage and laundry) should also be locked.
- All keys should be stored in safe place – out of reach of criminals.
- Scissors, knives and things that can be used on you should also be safely stored.
- Keep your cell phone with emergency numbers on you at all times.
- An obvious, but surprisingly missed tip: switch your alarm and beams on.
- Light your entire driveway and entrance with soft, indirect lighting. Don’t forget to direct some lighting for the bushes.
- Cut bushes back and clear away the lower branches and foliage.
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