Holiday vigilance

As everyone gears up for the festive season, numerous plans are made but people often forget that criminals are still on the hunt.

“As you prepare for your own holidays, I would like to give you a few tips to help your holidays be as safe, restful and peaceful as possible. Please take every measure to ensure that your home is safe, your kids are supervised and your pets are cared for during the break,” says Ward 87 councillor Amanda Forsythe.

The 2014 crime statistic figures show that housebreaking with robberies increased by more than 7 per cent across the country but by a staggering 12 per cent in Gauteng and 14 percent in the Western Cape.

The 19 284 robberies inside the homes of South Africans is higher than the number recorded in 2010 and the highest in the last decade.

Please note that council will be in recess from 10 December until 5 January. This is the official holiday period for councillors and their families, but you can still report service delivery issues to Joburg Connect 0860 JOBURG or 011 375 55 55 or by using the new City of Joburg App and please don’t forget to ask for a reference number.

Tips:

• Inform only trusted friends, family or neighbours that you are going away;
• Try to get a house-sitter or someone to visit your house regularly, turn on lights at different times of the night, collect your mail and generally show a presence in your home;
• When leaving for your holiday, don’t pack your car in the street or in your garage with the door open. Try to be as discrete as possible about your departure;
• Don’t leave valuables where they are visible in your home or in your car;
• Avoid leaving the boxes or packaging of your latest purchases or presents such as TVs and computers on the pavement or where they are visible;
• Make sure doors are locked and windows are secure;
• Always be aware of who or what is around you and if something doesn’t look or feel right, contact the police or your local security company immediately;
• Try to also keep a lookout for strange things going on in your suburb or at your neighbour’s house, but rather than try to intervene yourself, call the police or your local security company to check it out;
• Inform your domestic workers or house-sitters of any visitors or tradesmen you are expecting and to not allow anyone else onto the property, especially without confirming their identification. There are a lot of thieves going around at the moment pretending to be from Eskom, Joburg Water and the like to gain access to your property;
• Know where your kids are at all times and especially around swimming pools or when playing outside;
• Please also make sure that your pets are properly cared for and fed while you are away.