Be careful who you allow onto your premises

A private security company is urging home-owners to do research into anyone they allow onto their property or into their homes to do any work.

They should be sure that any contract worker, cleaner, construction worker or builder is trustworthy before they are granted access.

“The people you have employed to work in your house or on your property form a vital line of defence in the fight against crime. You need to know that you can trust them with your property while you are away,” said Theunis Kotze, the general manager of ADT Security.

“Doing the necessary background checks before hiring them may seem like a time-consuming exercise but could make all the difference to your home security. Often in cases of break-ins and house robberies, inside information has been shared with criminals,” he said.

Kotze recommended starting with a criminal record check, which can be obtained through the SAPS, with the potential employee or contractor’s consent.

He also suggested doing a reference check with previous employers. “Ask questions about dismissals, responsibilities, any security issues, punctuality, and so on. Their answers will give you a good idea of the person’s track record,” Kotze said.

If you have a security system installed and you will be leaving the property, he suggested that you ensure that the people working for you know how to activate the alarm to call for help in case of an emergency.

“Explain to them how they need to deal with an alarm activation, what to do when the security company calls and when an officer responds.”

Kotze also suggested that employees be forbidden to grant access to the property to anyone they do not know. These people should only be allowed onto your property if you have granted permission for them to be there.

Also explain how they should respond if someone rings the doorbell or calls on the intercom:

• Ask the persons to identify themselves by their full names

• Ask them to state their business

• Ask them to show identification – company ID card, ID book or driver’s licence

• Verify their presence by calling the homeowner to find out if they are expecting the person, or call the company the person works for to check if this is indeed a legitimate visit.

“Lastly, consider enrolling any employees who may be working for you for an extended period of time in the local crime-prevention fora which take place in most neighbourhoods every month. These are often arranged by the police or community members and teach valuable crime-prevention and safety tips,” concluded Kotze.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.

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