Security company shares vital safety and security tips with domestic staff of the area.
It’s cases such as the 25 February Northcliff domestic worker murder and house robbery that keep Beagle Watch committed to hosting their Domestic Workers Forums. On 11 March, in Northcliff and Bryanston, the security company invited domestic staff from the area to give them crucial information on staying safe while at work. Tips and tricks on identifying suspicious behaviour, how to react during a house break-in, how to avoid a house robbery and others.
Lizo Songelwa was present at the Northcliff Domestic Workers and has been delivering these sessions for Beagle Watch. He shared why it’s so important for domestic staff to be prepared to deal with crime at any time. “The domestic workers are guarding the houses during the day, this is when criminals will try gain access to the house by pretending to be City Power or Joburg Water staff. As soon as they are in it is too late for the domestic worker to stop them.”
ALSO READ: Carry cash safely– safety tips at the ATM
Due to this domestic workers need to be able to identify any suspicious behaviour or activity and report it to the relevant authorities and the owners.
Franco Shao of Beagle Watch shared strategy used to gain entrance into these properties. “Criminals are opening mail they find in the post box to find out the names of the owners and then tell the domestic worker that Mr so-and-so said I should come today to do X-Y-Z.”
He added that some suspects will even go to the extent of pretending to call the owner tricking the domestic worker to open the gate and become a victim.
Shao who was present during the session in Bryanston said that they host these information exchanges with domestic staff in a social manner. “They get incentives for getting questions right, reciting emergency numbers by heart and memorise what to do in an emergency.”
For Shao this approach makes it easier for them to remember what to do and who to contact to stay safe during crime incidents.
The company’s customer relations manager Anne Wood said Beagle Watch is open to hosting these forum discussions with groups of domestic workers. They have encouraged residents associations, neighbourhood watch groups, body corporates and others to contact them in order to organise a session.
Details: Beagle Watch 011 678 1972; email info@beaglewatch.co.za
Related Article:
