How to be safe in the dark
Mapogo give tips on how to keep your home or business safe during load shedding.
One of the biggest fears of Eskom’s load shedding besides that your home will set alight because of all the candles you have to burn, is security.
Load shedding decreases the amount of visibility in and around your home or business and makes you prone to fall victim to thieves lurking in the night.
You don’t have electricity, what do you do about your security?
Wiehan van der Merwe, director of local security company Mapogo, gave a few tips on how to stay safe during this troubling time.
Firstly he advised to keep items such as toys or tools inside your home; do not leave it outside.
“Sometimes thieves see something small at your house and take it. Later they will return with the intention to take much more from inside your house.”
Sometimes residents arrive home late not knowing the power is off. Van der Merwe advised residents to keep pocket torches attached to key rings.
Solar power lights are also a great way to combat dark gardens. The lights charge in the sun all day and when there os no power at night, they provide sufficient lighting around your house for up to eight hours.
To combat the darkness inside your home, Van der Merwe suggested that flashlights be kept around the house on easy-to-access places.
It is common for people to eat out during load shedding as it is much easier than fumbling around in the dark at home.
“To keep your home protected, give your security company a call when you go out. That way you’ll know the security company will keep a close eye on your home.”
Lastly, make sure your alarm system will not give any trouble during load shedding. Have your security company test it regularly and test the battery in the event of load shedding.
“The best advice we can give is to be more alert during load shedding,” Van der Merwe said.
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