Homeowners must be careful who they employ

Homeowners are encouraged to first do research before allowing strangers on to their property or into their homes to do any work, Fidelity Security warned when speaking to the Randfontein Herald.

According to Agnieszka Gryn, General Manager: Inland Region Fidelity ADT Security: “Homeowners should be sure that all contract workers, cleaners, construction workers or builders are trustworthy before they are granted access.

READ MORE: Robbers hold up nanny, put gun to boy’s head in family robbery at PTA estate

“The people you have employed to work in your house or on your property form a vital line of defence against crime. You need to know that you can trust them with your property while you are away. Doing the necessary background checks before hiring them may seem like a time-consuming exercise, but it could make all the difference to your home security. Often in cases of break-ins and house robberies, inside information has been shared with criminals,” she said.

According to a report in the New Age last year, Claudia Naidoo-Van der Merwe, spokesperson for the background screening company Managed Integrity Evaluations, confirmed that many families in South Africa were becoming vulnerable to attacks because of complacency in their employment practices.

She said it was important to exercise caution when employing domestic workers, gardeners and contractors. The company also warned families not to hire anyone or let children interact with anybody in a professional capacity without a thorough background check on them.

“This is a dangerous world we live in and trust has become a luxury we can no longer afford. But beware, these supposedly professional faces may mask an unscrupulous past or bad intentions,” Naidoo-Van der Merwe said.

She added that more than 25 per cent of the people the company did criminal checks on carried certain risks.

“It is imperative that any employer performs a criminal background and reference check before engaging with potential employees who they may be allowing into their homes,” she said.

Gryn agreed, saying the first step is to start with a criminal record check which can be obtained through the police, with the potential employee or contractor’s consent.

She also suggested doing a reference check with previous employers. “Ask questions about dismissals, responsibilities, any security issues, punctuality, and so on. Their answers will give you a good idea of the person’s track record. Alternatively always work through a professional placement agency that will do these checks for you,” she said.

Any good agency will ensure the candidates have been thoroughly screened, evaluated and assessed and their backgrounds checked. Some will even have provided the candidates with some additional training like child-minding, CPR and housekeeping.

“Once you have made your decision you need to ensure that anyone working for you understands your security protocols. They must know how to activate the alarm and to call for help in case of an emergency. Explain to them how they need to deal with an alarm activation, what to do when the security company calls and when an officer responds.”

Gryn also suggested explaining how they should respond if someone rings the doorbell or calls on the intercom:

• Ask the person to identify him/herself by full name

• Ask them to state their business

• Ask them to show identification – company ID card, ID book or driver’s licence

• Verify – by calling the homeowner to find out if they were expecting the person, or call the company the person works for to check if this is indeed a legitimate visit

“Lastly, consider enrolling any employees who may be working for you for an extended period of time in local crime-prevention forums which take place in most neighbourhoods every month. These are often arranged by the Police or community members and teach valuable crime-prevention and safety tips,” concluded Gryn.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.