Victims of crime most vulnerable at home

Criminals do not like surprises and prefer striking when their victims are at home.

These are just some of the scary realities contained in the book ‘Home Invasion’ penned by a senior lecturer at the University of South Africa’s College of Law, Professor Rudolph Zinn.

In 2006 and 2007 Rudolph Zinn interviewed a group of convicted house robbers in jail. He found that the average house robber is in his 20s, a young man who is nevertheless a very experienced criminal who has committed over 100 crimes by the time he is arrested. He plans his robbery in advance, after first obtaining inside information about the house and its residents. He often uses extreme violence, and will harm his victims if they put the robbery at risk.

Home Invasion discloses in shocking detail the modus operandi and motivation of house robbers. Crucial information is brought to light that will empower anyone who reads the book. It offers important advice – based on the house robbers’ information and the author’s analyses – on how to safeguard your home and minimize danger if attacked. The information in this book was validated by the findings from a recent case docket analysis done by the police of a 1000 house robbery cases reported to them.

Here is some of the facts in the book that could save your life.

According to Zinn, victims who try to fight back have a good chance to be killed and in most cases victims are tortured to hand over valuable items and cash. Small dogs inside the house can warn you because they bark at any noise.

The book states that robbers attack before victims retire for the night and activate their alarms and the race of the victim does not play a role.

Zinn also says that robberies mostly occur on Thursday and Fridays so that robbers have enough cash for the weekend.

Another shocking fact in the book is that 30% of house robbers have killed their victims and 60% have pointed their firearms. In the book Zinn says that it can take police more than a decade before they catch up with an armed robber and this is also the motive why robbers are so brutal and ruthless – they know they get away with the most horrendous crimes.

Zinn interviewed 30 convicted robbers in Gauteng to understand more about their working methods, profiles, motives and their extent of brutality. According to recent statistics 18 000 residential robberies occur every year and the police just don’t seem to win the fight against this crime.

The typical robber is between the ages of 19 and 26-years of age and a career criminal who will not hesitate to use excessive violence to intimidate his victim.

Houses in affluent suburbs are targeted particularly if the house is architecturally imposing and the occupants have luxurious cars – all symbols of money.

Workers and personnel are often asked for information or bribed to supply information or to play an active role in the course of the event. Houses are scouted for weeks and security checked before they strike.

According to Zinn owners of pawnshops are frequently involved and pay the best prices for the stolen items. Some even place orders for certain items. False receipts are then issued to the criminals.

Robbers also have connections in security companies and police who frequently help them to target particular houses. During interviews robbers were critical of the police and their poor investigation of robberies as well as their poor intelligence.

The book is published by Tafelberg and can be found in most major book stores in the country at R150.