As the evenings and mornings grow darker, security company Fidelity ADT has urged students to be vigilant when heading to and from school, colleges or universities.
“Many students leave home during the dark, early hours of the morning to catch taxis and buses to get to school or tertiary institutions. They also head home in the dark at the end of the day. Unfortunately, opportunistic criminals use the cover of dark to prey on unsuspecting victims,” said
Charnel Hattingh, National Marketing and Communications Manager at Fidelity ADT.
She further urged students to always walk in groups. If this is not possible, try to keep to well-lit streets and areas.
Also keep your valuables hidden or rather leave them at home. Don’t carry large amounts of cash if you can avoid it,” she said.
Always tell someone when you are leaving and what time you are expecting to be back.
Charnel also suggested looking into possibly paying slightly more but getting a taxi service that will fetch you from your home during the winter months.
“There are many private services on offer now where a driver will pick up several students from their homes and drop them at school. It may be a better option during the winter.”
She added that there are also security apps that are available that can track the user in the event of an emergency.
“It’s worth looking into,” she said.
Most important, said Charnel, is being alert and aware of what is happening around you.
“Put your earphones and phones away. Look at what is around you. Take note of people and places, so anything out of the ordinary will be obvious. Let’s all be security conscious during these darker winter months,” she concluded.
