Crucial safety tips at residential estates, complexes

Good personal safety habits should never be neglected or forgotten. They play a major role in preventing potential crime and should be encouraged even if you live behind the walls of a residential estate or security complex, advised the Fidelity Services Group.

“Residents often become complacent about their security and think that they can drop their guard the moment they drive through the estate’s gates. Sadly, this has led to cases where criminals grab valuable items through windows that were left open or gain access via sliding doors that were not locked, for example. We urge residents to remember that they still have a part to play in keeping themselves and fellow residents safe even if they live inside the boundaries of a security estate,” said Fidelity Services Group head of communications and marketing, Charnel Hattingh.

She added that crime syndicates often target lifestyle estates because those residents tend to become complacent about security.

“A particularly serious problem is the information passed on by people who live on or have regular jobs within estates. Armed with information, and their reconnaissance, the criminals keep finding new ways of gaining access to estates.”

Estate security companies are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their service to residents and have introduced a range of technological measures such as access control systems, movement-activated cameras, and constant patrols.

Regardless of the measures that may be in place, it remains vital that residents play their part. Personal involvement in security is always required.

Hattingh offered the following safety tips for estate residents:

• Do not rely on perimeter security alone: While perimeter security measures have been successful in driving down crime in estates, residents still need to take precautions in their homes. Once criminals gain access to properties within estates, they often have free rein because residents become complacent about their home security within these developments. Be sure to lock doors and windows and ensure vehicles are locked, even if parked in a garage and do not leave valuables lying around, particularly where they may be visible to passers-by. If you have an alarm system installed, please make sure it is armed when you are away and also at night when you are asleep. Most systems operate in zones, which makes it easy to activate those zones of the house that you are not using.

• Check the references of your domestic worker and gardener: Very often crimes within estates are carried out with the assistance of a domestic staff member. Make sure you have properly checked your domestic worker’s and gardener’s references and educate them on keeping your home secure when you are not there.

• Watch out if there is construction taking place: Having construction workers on site within estates has historically resulted in elevated crime levels. Whether this is a direct result of construction workers having access to the estate, or because of the increase in traffic in and out of the estate, remains a mystery. Take extra precautions.

• Report suspicious behaviour: One of the modus operandi within estates is for a crime syndicate to move into a home for a while. During this time they monitor the behaviour of residents and initiate house break-ins in the estate before moving out.

• Be alert when entering and exiting the estate: Criminals have targeted residents leaving from or returning to estates and hijacked them a few metres from the gates or followed them inside and robbed them by tailgating them as they enter the premises. The reality is that people relax and become less and less alert the closer they get to home. Do not think that just because there is a security guard at the gate you can become complacent.

• Know your neighbours: Make sure you have the contact details for the homeowners next door so that you can reach them in case of an emergency or if you suspect that something might be amiss. Keep the contact details for any security teams deployed on the estate close by, so that you can contact them quickly in case of an emergency or if you notice suspicious behaviour.