Police recently held a workshop for domestic workers about security consciousness and crime prevention.
This at Klein Constantia Guest House, Weltevreden Park, and organised by Constantia Kloof Neighbourhood Association chairperson John Baisley, who was also joined by security company Dowry Security.
“Due to the fact that most residential areas are largely vacated during the day by homeowners… these residential areas can become susceptible to housebreakings and theft and to house robberies,” explained Honeydew Police Station media liaison officer, Warrant Officer Dave Stanton.
Domestic workers and other household employees are home more often during week days, and it seemed good to train them to be security conscious, Stanton said.
“We train them on different crime-prevention strategies, household protection, and what suspicious factors to look out for, as well as where and how to communicate this with our visible policing members. So far, this educational and networking programme has proved beneficial in curbing daytime residential area crimes.”
Sector 2 manager Warrant Officer Nicholas Makhura highlighted the following for the domestic workers present:
- Leaving a home during the course of the day with entry keys should be kept to a minimum and avoided if possible. When taking out refuse or cutting grass on the outside perimeter of homes, be especially observant and careful.
- When household employees are approached during the day by anyone claiming to be working for the owner, e.g. plumbers, pool cleaners, or anyone claiming to be from the municipality, City council or Eskom, they should never open up for them, without prior arrangement or confirmation from their employers.
- WhatsApp groups divided into sectors or per street are great for security. Household employees were encouraged to set these up and to also request their employers to assist them in doing this.
Advice for homeowners was to always ensure that household employees have correct up-to-date telephone numbers of the local police station, security companies and emergency services. Also make sure staff are security conscious and advised of safety protocols.
